AN ASHTON store has taken the legal route to appeal against a decision to suspend its licence.
Owners of Best One, on Canterbury Street, will state their case against Tameside Council’s decision on December 12.
And according to documents, they feel that and the decision to remove the current designated premises supervisor and to suspend the licence, ‘was excessive.’
A meeting of the Speakers Panel (Liquor Licensing) committee in June heard accusations illicit tobacco was being sold from the shop.
Trading standards officers said there had been a ‘pattern’ of behaviour from the store dating back to last June.
Police claimed: “Intelligence dated January 26 states the staff are selling fake cigarettes, tobacco and drinks,” and during a day of action on February 17, almost 1,000 cigarettes and 450 grams of tobacco were seized.
However, the business – owned by Iqbal Shamraiz – insists things have been put right and a lesser suspension would be better.
They say a new man in charge after Mr Shamraiz was removed has, ‘run the business, with no issues and has introduced a due diligence folder and training for all staff.
‘We feel that option to suspend the licence for a three-month period was excessive and a shorter period of one month would have been a more proportionate and fair decision.
‘The three-month suspension together with the removal of him as DPS impacts greatly on Mr Shamraiz.’
Tameside Magistrates Court, which initially heard the case of August 12, will hear and adjudge Best One’s argument on December 12.
Because of the appeal, the suspension has not yet taken effect.