Totnes garage row deepens after council axes late-night alcohol restrictions

A Devon MP has described her “deep disappointment” after councillors decided to lift a series of conditions imposed on the operators of a garage with a 24-hour alcohol licence.

“Totnes is not a 24-hour town,” said South Devon Liberal Democrat MP Caroline Voaden.

The town’s Morrisons filling station was granted its round-the-clock alcohol sales licence in 2024, despite a barrage of objections from local people.

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South Hams councillors then insisted on a number of stringent conditions before allowing the 24-hour licence at the garage in Station Road, which is one of more than 1,200 around the country owned by the Motor Fuel Group (MFG).

Local police had no objections to the 2024 application, but objectors included the town council, the town’s street pastors and Ms Voaden.

One neighbour said the change would cause “untold nuisance” and that the petrol station, linked to the town’s Morrisons store, had become a gathering point when pubs closed.

Another said: “There is no need for the sale of alcohol on a 24-hour basis. Totnes is not a metropolis; it is a rural town. We do not need nor wish for a thriving nightlife.”

The condition around the sale of alcohol through the night pay window was imposed after locals said noisy groups gathered there.

MFG was told it must not sell beer, lager or cider with an ABV content of 6% or above, apart from craft and premium beers. 

There must be at least two members of staff on duty between 11pm and 6am, and there must be no sales of alcohol through a night pay window.

The company was also told to invite its neighbours to a meeting at least quarterly. 

Now, however, the company has had the conditions lifted by the district council’s licensing committee.

“I am deeply disappointed by the decision to green-light unrestricted 24-hour alcohol sales at the Morrisons filling station in Totnes,” said Ms Voaden.

“As concerned residents rightly voiced months ago, Totnes is not a 24-hour town. And the concerns underpinning the restrictions, such as public nuisance and crime and disorder, are as relevant today as when they were introduced.

“I have seen little to suggest these issues will not re-emerge and intensify following this decision.”