A HASLEMERE supermarket will be able to sell alcohol around the clock in the run-up to Christmas but will have to take extra steps to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Tesco has been granted a new licence allowing it to sell alcohol 24 hours a day throughout December.

It has also been given permission to sell alcohol between the hours of 6 am to midnight throughout the year to give it the greatest flexibility with its opening hours, which are also set to change.

The application was agreed by Waverley Borough Council's licensing sub committee last Thursday after hearing arguments both for and against.

Changes in the licensing laws have meant that all premises selling alcohol have to apply for a new licence. At the same time, permission could be sought to alter the hours during which it is currently allowed to sell alcohol.

The extended hours are designed to cover all eventualities to prevent the need to apply for individual extensions and alterations for every special event or circumstances.

In its application, Tesco applied to be licensed to sell alcohol to its customers between 6 am and midnight every day of the week.

It also stated that it wished to extend its opening hours and change them to 8 am to midnight on Mondays, 6 am to midnight Tuesdays to Fridays, 6 am to 10 am on Saturdays and 10 am to 4 pm on Sundays. On top of this, the supermarket also applied for permission to sell alcohol for up to 24 hours a day in December.

This is to allow it to sell alcohol to customers doing their seasonal food shopping if the supermarket decides to extend its opening hours even further in the run-up to Christmas.

In its arguments in favour of being permitted the change, Tesco told the committee that it took stringent measures to ensure that it is only sold to customers of the right age.

"We introduced our 'Think 21' policy to all of our stores in July 2004," it said in its application.

"This policy is brought to customers' attention through point-of-sale material at the checkout and wherever alcohol is displayed for sale.

"We take legal compliance very seriously and in addition to local training, we employ a central alcohol licensing compliance manager and have a compliance committee."

However, the application did attract some controversy with a letter of objection received by the council from residents of the neighbouring blocks of flats, whose identities have been shielded by the council.

The letter argued that the surrounding area was already plagued with anti-social behaviour which would be made worse by the extended hours.

"We overlook Tesco and its car park, which is used as a race track and trolly dash late at night," their letter said.

"Our own grounds are used by badly behaved teenagers, drunks and smokers. The outbuildings are use for toilets and sexual behaviour even though our property is marked private.

"We all feel very unsafe in the late evening.

"This extra licence is just going to cause even more bad behaviour, and we feel that Tesco is being unfair to the local council tax payers and strongly object to this application."

After considering both arguments, the committee agreed to grant Tesco the extension – but on the condition that it takes action to prevent potential problems.

The committee agreed that Tesco should have and make use of CCTV in its car park and that the duty manager's number should be made available to local residents to report any alcohol-related problems.

On top of this, the committee also agreed that it should urge the supermarket to do all it can to tackle the existing problems already plaguing the area.

The committee urged Tesco to consider sealing the car park entrance when the store is closed, as well as come up with ways of preventing its trolleys from being taken away.

It also urged the supermarket to think of a raft of other measures which it could take to tackle other anti-social behaviour happening on and around its grounds.

The licensing changes can take effect from November 24.