AN OFF-LICENCE has won permission to open next to March’s new amusement arcade - but it will have to comply with a raft of conditions.

Councillor Kit Owen, a Fenland District Council cabinet member, had led objections to the store, which police and residents feared would increase crime, fuel street drinking and disturb the peace.

But councillors on Fenland District Council’s Licensing Committee snubbed objectors yesterday by stating there was no evidence to support their claims.

They granted applicant Tarik Serin the premises licence for 4 Station Road, allowing him to serve alcohol from 8am-11pm every day.

His application came almost two years after another member of the family, Mehmet Serin, won permission to transform Marcam House into Ace Electra Amusements.

Councillor Kay Mayor, chairman of the licensing committee, said: “We note that the objections by Cambridgeshire Constabulary have been addressed by conditions which have been agreed between the applicant and the police.

“The police raised the issue of cumulative impact which we have considered but note that no factual request has been received to implement this in March.

“The objections raised by the interested parties have been acknowledged and we share many of the concerns raised however as this is a new business we do not have any evidence to support these objections.”

The premises licence - granted after a site visit - is subject to a string of conditions.

The store will be banned from selling single cans or bottles of beer, lager or cider.

CCTV must be maintained at the premises, while staff training records and logs of refusals and incidents must be kept.

The off-licence must sign up to the Challenge 25 age verification policy and a personal licence holder should be present whenever alcohol is sold.

Councillors also recommended that the store should seek to join the PubWatch Scheme.

Cllr Owen had claimed the store would be inappropriate next to an amusement arcade “which by its nature invariably attracts young and vulnerable people”.