A SHOP owner has applied to be able to sell booze over Christmas – just weeks after being told his licence would be suspended.
The three-month suspension at Arun's off-licence in Upper Parliament Street, in the city centre, is due to come into force on Wednesday, December 19.
It came after the shop was found to be selling alcohol to street drinkers.
Now, Freydun Sakhi has submitted two temporary event notices to the city council which, if granted, would allow him to sell booze between December 20 and 24, and December 26 and 31.
He has sent in two separate forms to the city council to cover those periods.
People would usually apply for the licences for one-off events like music festivals or carnivals.
In the section asking applicants to describe the nature of the events, Mr Sakhi has written: "Build up to Christmas" and "Christmas and build up to New Year celebrations".
He has also said on the form that he needs the notices because of the suspension of his licence.
He wants to be able to sell booze between 8am and 11pm each day.
Councillors on a city council licensing committee are due to meet at Loxley House tomorrow to discuss Mr Sakhi's application.
Notts Police have objected to both applications.
Malcolm Turner, the police deputy head of legal services, wrote a notice of objection against them.
It read: "The police are of the opinion that the giving of this temporary event notice is purely a way of circumventing the suspension and is not an 'event' in itself."
If the notice is granted it would be as a modification of the existing suspension order.
Mr Turner added: "The police are also of the opinion that a modification of the notice will not resolve the concerns held, as it is the management practices at the premises that are the issue."
The city council decided to put the suspension order on Arun's in November, after police expressed concerns that he had sold alcohol to drunk people – known street drinkers – on at least two occasions, despite warnings.
As well as the suspension he was told the shop must never sell beer, lager or cider over 5.5% without permission from the police. Nor can it sell individual cans.
He was given time to appeal, but has not yet done so.
Mr Sakhi refused to comment when the Post contacted him.
