OBJECTIONS have been lodged against an application to let Marks and Spencer sell alcohol at its new Lion Green store until 11pm every night.

M&S wants the licence to sell alcohol during the opening hours, both for retail sales and from a customer cafe at its new food store in Lion Lane, Haslemere.

Waverley Borough Council will consider issuing the premises license which would allow retail alcohol sales from Monday-Saturday between 6am and 11pm and on Sundays from 10am until 10.30pm.

The application states there would also be sales from a customer cafe between 8am and 11pm at the Simply Food store, which is due to open in January,

But a neighbour said in a written objection: “My belief is opening until 10pm latest is sufficient Monday-Saturday and until 4pm on Sunday.”

The objector added: “My experience and by comparison to living in several other areas, it is clear there is a constant anti-social element that gathers on Lion Green and Weyhill. It is stating the obvious to say there is minimal police presence in Haslemere, now with no police station, and this will only get worse given Mr Osborne’s further intended cuts to policing.

“If this store is given the choice to open until midnight, it gives further excuse to ‘hang around’ even later on Lion Green, the result of which is further disruption in the area.”

The neighbour also said, “there is no need whatsoever” for Sunday deliveries and there was already an overload of deliveries Monday to Saturday in the “high density residential area”.

Deliveries also posed a safety hazard, as Lion Green is used by children, and Sunday a day that cycle and fitness clubs gather there.

With an accident happening nearby in recent weeks, the neighbour said: “Any action possible should be taken to prevent further incidents.”

“I feel we are already provided for by the supermarket which currently opens long hours and contributes to a large amount of the traffic at the junction of Lion Lane and Weyhill.

“There is no requirement to further add to this and a balance needs to be achieved for the benefit of everyone and not just commerce.

“M&S are welcome to trade but not at a cost to residents.”

Another resident’s objections were to the store opening until midnight seven days a week, and to Sunday deliveries. They said: “There is already an issue with anti-social behaviour on Lion Green, and alcohol available until midnight will only make this worse.

“There is also the issue of safety of lorries on a Sunday with small children playing directly adjacent to the store.”