Sainsbury's will open a new convenience store in Hampton Wick, despite neighbours fearing customers will disturb them late at night. 

Richmond Council has granted the new branch of Sainsbury's Local, on Hampton Wick High Street, a licence to open and sell alcohol from 7am to 11pm every day.

A total of 71 residents objected to the application, with their concerns including the possibility of neighbours experiencing more antisocial behaviour in Hampton Wick as a result of the store's booze plans.

But the council's Licensing Committee ruled that conditions imposed on the licence would address residents' concerns, after a hearing on November 4.

Tony Page, who has lived in Hampton Wick since 1981, said at the hearing the area already has enough pubs and shops selling alcohol. He claimed allowing the shop to sell booze would give youngsters easy access to cheaper alcohol and 'steal trade' from other venues.

Maria McManus, who has lived locally since 1997, added: "My main concern with regards to antisocial behaviour and disorder is that Hampton Wick station is largely unmanned and we don't have ticket barriers. 

Numbers of people will use this as a way of bypassing paying for tickets and when they find that there's a Sainsbury's there where they can buy alcohol, that is going to increase the numbers of people coming there."

But solicitor Robert Botkai, representing Sainsbury's, said conditions added to the proposed licence dealt with residents' concerns – including appropriately training staff, maintaining an incident log and recording refusals of alcohol sales. 

He said the store would not be a destination for late-night drinkers as it would close by 11pm, while there was no evidence it would increase the number of passengers fare dodging at the station.

Mr Botkai added: "We're confident that we'll be able to operate the store safely and that we will benefit the area."

The committee said, in a report on its decision to grant the licence, that Sainsbury's was a "very experienced operator with numerous similar stores across the country".

The report ruled the "need" for another licensed venue in the area was not relevant to the committee's considerations, while other concerns raised by residents would be addressed by conditions on the new licence – including requirements for the venue to follow a security plan and to install signs asking customers to leave quietly.



The new Sainsbury's store will replace the Painted Furniture Company on Hampton Wick High Street (Credit: Google Maps)

Locals have also expressed concerns about where delivery vans will park at the new venue and worry that the take over of the new Sainsbury's from the Painted Furniture Company will have a negative impact on independent businesses on the High Street.