South Holland District Council has been praised by residents for getting tough on criminality in Spalding off-licences and throwing out the latest application.
Scores of Voice readers have welcomed the rejection of a bid for a premises licence at the former China City Restaurant in Winsover Road.
It was refused due to the history of criminality between the property’s leaseholder Ribaz Aziz Raza and Karwan Ahmad, who recently had his premises licences for two neighbouring shops revoked after thousands of non-duty paid cigarettes were found.
A hearing at the council – brought about by representations by members of the public and crime concerns from Lincolnshire Police – was told that there was no evidence of criminality involving the applicant, Hassan Khoshparwar. But it was his association with Mr Raza and Mr Ahmad which proved crucial.
Mr Raza is also the leaseholder for Winsover, one of the off-licences at the centre of a raid by police and Trading Standards officers last December. Mr Ahmad is the premises licence holder for both Winsover and Baltic – the other shop raided.
Mr Khoshparwar insisted that he now had no link with Mr Ahmad, who had applied for a premises licence for the former restaurant in January, detailing Mr Khoshparwar as the Designated Premises Supervisor (day-to-day manager). Mr Ahmad withdrew that application after his licences for Winsover and Baltic were revoked in February (decisions currently being appealed).
It was then that Mr Khoshparwar put in an application himself.
He told the hearing on April 21 that he had taken out a bank loan and put his life savings into opening the new business, which has already been extensively refitted.He claimed the store would not be economically viable without the sale of alcohol.
“I will lose a lot of money [if the licence is not granted],” he said.
Importantly, he was unable to demonstrate to police that he had a vested interest in the business. Consequently, officers took the view that he was not a genuine applicant and was linked to Mr Ahmad.
The council’s decision notice read: “This decision will not prevent the premises from opening. However, it will not be authorised to sell alcohol due to the history of criminality linked to Mr Karwan Ahmad and Mr Ribaz Aziz Raza and premises leased to, managed or controlled by them.”
Mr Khoshparwar has 21 days from April 21 to lodge an appeal against the council’s decision. He declined to comment to The Voice.
