POLICE have strong reservations about giving a Wimblington garage permission to sell alcohol, councillors will be told on Tuesday.

Sisco Service Station in Doddington Road wants to open an off-licence and a hearing on Tuesday of Fenland District Council’s licensing committee will determine whether it can do so.

Sgt Dave Bax, of Cambs Police, will tell councillors that if the licence is granted then owner Umesh Modhavadi should not be allowed to sell alcohol before 8am.

“There are no premises in proximity to this new off-licence to justify any competition levelling requirements that could facilitate the need for early alcohol sales,” says Sgt Bax.

He also wants restrictions in place to stop the sale of single cans or bottles and no beer or cider with an ABV above 5.5 per cent.

CCTV is also suggested as being made compulsory, records of refusals should be kept and restriction signs put up “in the main local languages”.

Police fear that young people congregating nearby “could lead to intimidation and harassment to persons lawfully using the highway or living nearby”.

Police are also insisting the owner shows the off-licence will be separated from the garage.