Liquor store battle goes to appeal

LOCATION: The possible location of a new bottle store in Masterton. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

A Whanganui man who was refused a liquor licence to open a new bottle store in Masterton is not giving up without a fight.

In June, the Masterton District Licensing Committee turned down Gurdev Sandhu's application for an off-licence to open a bottle store at 81 Dixon St, beside Rogers Lane.

Mr Sandhu, 24, has since filed an appeal against the decision and a hearing was held before the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority in Wellington last Thursday.

The committee had ruled another liquor outlet would negatively affect the area, which has the worst socio-economic conditions in Masterton, according to the NZ Deprivation Index.

There were six opponents to the original application, including health groups, who said the town was already saturated with places to buy alcohol and another store would cause more alcohol-related harm to the vulnerable community.

Surrounding businesses objected because of security fears.

In the ruling, committee commissioner Jane Terpstra said Mr Sandhu was a suitable applicant but they were concerned he did not show any awareness of the wider effects of a new store in a community with an already high density of alcohol outlets.

Mr Sandhu declined to make a comment to the Times-Age.

Masterton has one of the highest rates of alcohol outlets per person in the country.

It is not known when the authority will release its decision on Mr Sandhu's appeal.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said there was no estimated timeframe for the decision and it would be made in due course.