Samy Group, which secured a £15m funding package in May this year, is facing resistance to its expansion plans for a “highly profitable” Cornish forecourt it acquired last month.
The Birmingham firm bought the Probus School Filling Station, which lies five miles from Truro, after its previous owners offered it for £2.75m as a retirement sale.
Samy has since turned the village forecourt, which sits on the A390, into a 24-hour site, and is now looking to sell alcohol overnight, too.
An application to Corwall Council’s Licensing Board by the firm is seeking permission to sell alcohol, as well as food, between 11pm and 5am, but its plans have been poorly received by some locals.
Cornwall Live reports that eight residents in the village of Probus have lodged objections to Samy’s plans, with one saying there have “been multiple recorded incidents of antisocial behaviour” in the village.
Another is concerned that a nearby covered bus shelter could become “a convenient gathering point for groups purchasing alcohol from the filling station”, while a third says offering alcohol for sale on a 24-hour basis “is entirely unnecessary and inappropriate in such a rural village setting”.
Devon and Cornwall Police, meanwhile, has requested that if the extended alcohol licence is granted, either two members of staff are on duty overnight, or sales are conducted through the forecourt’s night hatch.
A spokesperson for Samy Group told Forecourt Trader:
”We recognise the support and respect the concerns raised by local residents regarding the proposed licence extension.
”Feedback from the community, whether supportive or opposed, is an important part of the process, and we remain committed to engaging openly and constructively with all stakeholders.
”As experienced operators of 24-hour facilities, we have a strong track record of working closely with local authorities and community partners to address concerns and ensure operations are managed responsibly. We will continue to collaborate with all relevant parties to achieve a balanced outcome that reflects both community and customer interests and operational requirements.”
Cornwall Council’s licensing committee will meet in early November to decide the matter.
