Concerns at opening hours of new Eastbourne Tesco Express in Terminus Road

On Tuesday (November 1), an Eastbourne Borough Council licensing panel is set to consider an application connected with plans to open a new Tesco store at 83 to 85 Terminus Road — a unit previously occupied by the clothing store Monsoon.

The supermarket chain is seeking a licence which would allow it to sell alcohol and food from the store from 6am until midnight, seven days a week.

However, these hours have seen objections raised by Sussex Police, which argues the proposed store’s location makes it an inappropriate location for late-night opening.

Inspector Kara Tombling, of the Sussex Police licensing team, said: “The store closing at 22:00 would be more justified for the location and the current crime and disorder in the area.

“The store is located in a high harm hotspot for public place violent crime and street drinking causing a significant impact on antisocial behaviour in the area which does include littering and urinating in public places.

“The location is covered by a Public Space Protection Order to tackle street drinking and its associated anti-social behaviour and public place violent crime. The store is located where the street community frequent regularly.”

In her representation, Insp Tombling went on to say the applicant had not (at the time of writing in early September) commented on the police calls for a 10pm closing time.

Similar concerns around late-night drinking and antisocial behaviour in Terminus Road have also been raised by a number of public objectors.