A bargain retailer has withdrawn its bid to sell booze from its new store after it met opposition over concerns it could lead to a spike in alcohol-related crime.

B&M had applied to Medway Council to sell alcohol from the unit formerly occupied by Wilko in Gillingham High Street.

Its application for a premises licence was set to be reviewed by the authority’s licencing hearing panel on November 5, ahead of the store’s official opening on November 16, but has since been withdrawn.

The application raised concerns with both police and Medway’s director of public health due to the store asking for permission to sell alcohol from 7am to 11pm, seven days a week.

Both say the new store is in an area where alcohol-related crimes are already a problem - and they think it would only get worse.

However, the retail chain had disputed the claims, saying staff would have been trained on how to refuse the sale of alcohol to people appearing drunk, and there would be regular checks outside the front of the store.

Acting director of public health, Professor David Whiting, says the High Street and nearby areas already have a high density of off-licences and experience on-going issues with drink-related crimes, including domestic abuse and public nuisance.

It’s also included within an Alcohol Control Zone (ACZ), where there is a public space protection order (PSPO) in place to try and deal with such crimes.

Prof Whiting said the council does not believe B&M have considered this local context, nor shown how it intends to ensure the sale of alcohol will not add to these issues.

In fact, he says the public health team believe it would have contributed towards alcohol-related crime, disorder, and public nuisance.

Kent Police, in its contribution, said any sale of alcohol would aggravate issues of street drinking and anti-social behaviour, as well as violent assaults, sexual abuse and offences, harassment and public urination in the High Street.

It too had asked for the licencing panel to reject the application.

After careful consideration B&M said earlier this week it was not going to proceed with the application for the alcohol licence for the new store.

But before this, Niall McCann, from Keystone Law, had argued on the retailer’s behalf it was a national brand and has protocols and apparatus to ensure their stores are run properly.

He added the store would have a CCTV system throughout the store and B&M will liase with police about issues which may arise.

Additionally, he says staff would be trained how to refuse the sale of alcohol to people who are drunk and there will be regular checks outside the front of the store to prevent loitering.

*UPDATE: This article was amended to reflect the decision by B&M to withdrawn its application for the alcohol licence for this store