A NEWBRIDGE church has petitioned against a coffee shop’s plans to sell alcohol over fears it could create antisocial behaviour.

The Coffee Vault in High Street is seeking permission from Caerphilly council to sell alcohol from Monday to Sunday between 11.30am and 11pm.

The proposals would also extend the shop’s opening times from 8am to 11pm.

CCTV will be operational during the licensing hours and for two hours afterwards and staff trained to prevent the sale of alcohol to underage customers, a report says.

Customers who seem younger than 25 years of age will be asked to provide identification before any alcohol is handed over.

Measures would also be put in place to stop adults from buying alcohol on behalf of someone under the age of 18.

Licensing officers raised no objection to the application but asked that a notice be placed in the shop reminding customers to leave the premises quietly – a condition accepted by the applicant.

The application also received no objections from trading standards, child protection officers or Gwent Police.

But the council received a petition against the premises licence application from the Tabernacle Baptist Church.

The petition, signed by 19 people, says the availability of alcohol from The Coffee Vault would only add to existing antisocial behaviour problems in Newbridge.

“Newbridge town centre has experienced antisocial behaviour caused by alcohol and drugs misuse in the vicinity of the Calzaghe Bridge in close proximity to The Coffee Vault,” the petition reads.

“The availability of alcohol from 11.30m means that young children, their parents and school pupils, who often congregate in the area on their way to and from school and to catch buses, could encounter individuals drinking on the streets or worse for drink.

“This, clearly, would compromise other people’s safety and wellbeing. Other traders in the town centre may be subject to harassment because of the sale and consumption of alcohol at this location.

“We believe strongly that the granting of this application would have a detrimental impact on the goal of achieving a better Newbridge for which we all strive.”

A licensing hearing will take place at Penallta House on October 11.