MARKS and Spencer will have a seven-days-a-week alcohol licence in place when it opens on Lion Lane in Haslemere in the new year.

Waverley Borough Council licensing committee decided it will allow retail alcohol from the store and from a new customer cafe up until 11pm.

A legal representative for M&S told the committee the application had been changed from midnight to 11pm after objections were received from residents – as reported by The Herald last month.

Alcohol would be served in the cafe but only as part of the offers available on dining meals and staff serving in the cafe would have had relevant training in serving and selling alcohol.

The committee noted concerns had been raised by objectors regarding anti-social behaviour on Lion Green, but the police had made no representations, so it could not link them to the premises.

However a review of the licence in the future was possible if there were complaints, the meeting was told.

Other issues raised were over planning matters and delivery hours but it could only deal with matters covered by the Licensing Act.

Permission was granted with the following conditions:–

• CCTV will be installed and data retained for a minimum period of 31 days and made available to the police and other public authorities

• Signs will be displayed instore stating it is an offence for people aged under 18 to buy alcohol and that it operates a Challenge 25 scheme;

• Signs will also be prominently displayed asking customers to respect local residents by keeping noise to a minimum when leaving the premises.