Droylsden shop to remain closed after court order extended

The Save More off-licence in Droylsden

A DROYLSDEN shop that sold illegal vapes and tobacco is to remain closed after a closure order was extended.

Amsterdam Off Licence, on Market Street, was shut in October following a string of offences.

Now Tameside Council has secured a further order until April 18 to prevent a recurrence of criminal activity as there was no assurance that the issues would not return.

The shop, which had been subject of two licence reviews, had been found to be consistently non-compliant in relation to various licensing, waste management, trading standards and other criminality.

In December 2022, council officers found a car at the rear of the premises that was being used to store illicit tobacco and drugs, resulting in the business’s licence being suspended for three months with conditions attached.

New owners continued to operate the business in a non-compliant manner and sell illegal vapes and tobacco.

In September 2023, a car was again found parked at the rear of the shop containing a large quantity of illegal goods, meaning the licence was revoked.

And even though an application for a new licence under different owners was refused, it continued to sell alcohol, illicit tobacco and illegal vapes.

When the initial closure notice was served in October, more illicit produce, including 2,500 cigarettes and 30 pouches of tobacco, was seized.

After the order, which came after work in conjunction with Greater Manchester Police, was extended at Tameside Magistrates Court on Friday, January 17, Tameside Council’s executive member for environmental services and neighbourhoods, Cllr Laura Boyle, said: “I’m pleased that our application to extend the closure order was successful so that we can prevent these offences, which include selling illicit tobacco and illegal vapes, from returning.

“We are determined to do everything we can to protect our residents and prevent harm to the community.”