RESIDENTS of an Ipswich road today vented their anger after a new convenience store was granted a licence to sell alcohol.

RESIDENTS of an Ipswich road today vented their anger after a new convenience store was granted a licence to sell alcohol.

A new food store at 142 Felixstowe Road, MRS Food Store, was given permission to sell alcohol at a licensing sub-committee meeting but the move has not gone down well with neighbours.

Liz Harsant, leader of Ipswich Borough Council, was contacted by a number of people about the issue, who fear an increase in anti-social behaviour in the area.

She said: “What has angered everybody is that it will have a licence to sell alcohol from 11am to 11pm seven days a week.

“It is right bang in the middle of a residential row of terraced houses.

“There are a lot of anti-social behaviour problems in the area already.

“Young people drink and cause litter there and this will mean they can go into an off licence and buy more alcohol.

“The residents have created a petition and it is quite clear it will affect people in Felixstowe Road and Levington Road.”

Owner of the store, Metin Yildirim, told The Evening Star he was aware of concerns but said he would be living above the store and had no intention of allowing his shop to be a trigger for bad behaviour.

Speaking through his brother, he said: “It is a general food store and only a small part will be an off licence.

“I live above the shop and if I find any problems I will close it down.

“I don't see any problem with an off-licence being there.

“I am not going to disturb people with my business. If at any time I see that my business does not help the people around me I will close it down myself.

“I am looking to help people, not disturb them.”

Do you have concerns about alcohol-fuelled bad behaviour? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk