A bid by WH Smith to get a licence to sell alcohol at its Richmond Station outlet is being challenged by residents over fears it will fuel anti-social behaviour and a dangerous drinking culture.

The borough has seen major issues surrounding late night drinking, mainly involving young people from across London agreeing to meet via social media.

The station itself has become a hot spot for trouble with the result that the police and Council have established a 'safe zone' to provide reassurance at weekends.

The application is being fought by the Richmond Society and the Friends of Richmond Green, which has become a focal point for the gatherings along with the riverside and other green spaces.

The application is being fought by the Richmond Society and the Friends of Richmond Green. Credit: Nub News.

It is also being opposed by local ward councillors – Liberal Democrat Chris Varley and Chas Warlow of the Greens.

Despite the widespread opposition there has been no formal objection from the police, which representatives of WH Smith insist provides strong evidence that permission to sell drink should be granted.

The company also pointed out that a WH Smith outlet at Twickenham station has been selling alcohol for three years and it insisted this has caused no issues for the community.

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In a submission to the Council's Licensing Sub-Committee, The Richmond Society and Friends of Richmond Green said the proliferation of drinking establishments risks causing 'irrecoverable harm to the town, its residents, visitors and businesses'.

Peter Willan, for the Friends, said: "Richmond town's pubs and bars are a magnet for visitors in substantial numbers from all over London. We believe a full blown off-sales licence at the station would attract many customers for the supply and consumption of alcohol as they arrive at the transport hub.

"There is substantial public nuisance and crime and disorder arising from Richmond town's pubs, bars and off-licenced premises.

"The police have had to introduce Section 35 dispersal orders for Richmond Green on several weekends last year to deal with substantial crime, disorder and public nuisance.

"The police reported that there was a considerable amount of theft of alcohol that was fuelling the excessive consumption of alcohol by a large number of people congregating on Richmond Green, which in turn led to the crime, disorder and public nuisance."

Antisocial Behaviour on The Green has been sited as a potential issue. Credit: Nub News.

Virginia Curry of The Richmond Society, confirmed concerns, saying: "The town has very significant problems with under-age and anti-social drinking, coupled with littering and noise disturbances in all areas of the town."

She described the station as a 'hot spot' and said the drinking culture is 'destroying' parts of the town. She also pointed to Council policy, which has identified the centre of Richmond as at risk due to the availability of drink and has set up a Cumulative Impact Zone in order to limit the granting of new licences.

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Ms Curry pointed out that the police had objected to WH Smith getting a drink licence in 2012. At the time, the police stated: "This is an area that attracts a lot of street drinkers to loiter where they are known to beg, drink alcohol and cause anti-social behaviour.

"The ability to purchase alcohol more conveniently will attract more street drinkers thus undermining the licensing objectives of preventing crime and disorder and preventing a public nuisance."

Lawyer, Ewen Macgregor, who represents WH Smith, told councillors at a meeting this week that the fact the police are not objecting this time - based on implementing controls on the hours of sale and other conditions - should be seen as significant.

He said: "Had the responsible authorities had any concerns about this application they would have made representations – and they have not.

"Whilst WH Smith are respectful of the concerns raised by those who have made representations to this application, the reality of this business at this location, operating with these conditions is that those concerns – and that is not evidence – however well founded of well intentioned, will not materialise."

A decision is due to be published early next week.