RESIDENTS in a Chelmsford road are joining forces to oppose changes to a shop before it re-opens.

An application is before Chelmsford Council to make changes to 140 Rainsford Road, at its junction with Maltese Road.

The shop has been closed, but is now planned to reopen as a convenience store.

Residents of Maltese Road are angry because the proposal includes increasing the existing alcohol licensing hours, has a planning application for roller shutters that have already been added, as well as a new door and refuse store.

The proposal also includes increasing a two-bedroom flat above the shop to three bedrooms.

Ian Kingham, of Maltese Road, said: “We are collecting a petition to send to the council.

“The shop already has a licence for 8am to 8pm, but that is now being asked to be extended to 5am to 11pm, seven days a week. It is just not needed.

“The shop is only about 200m from the town centre.

“The red shutters have already been put up. They are unsightly and invite graffiti.

“We are not against the shop re-opening, but this is the fourth application that has been submitted to the council and changes keep being made.”

Rob and Susie Shaw, of Maltese Road, said: “We have no objection to a shop which is in keeping with the area, but the barred windows and red roller shutters? An extended alcohol licence is a recipe for trouble.”

The residents have the support of ward councillors Jude Deakin and Graham Pooley.

Mr Pooley said: “There was an office and a shop there which the residents were happy with.

“They are concerned about rubbish storage, the extended alcohol licence and the shutters and the number of changes. “The site is very small and I support their concerns.”

The application will go before the planning and licensing committees. People have until April 3 to make any comments.

Kanesalingam Kanagalingam, the applicant, said he wanted to have the extended licence so if people came in for a paper at 5am and wanted to buy alcohol, he would be able to sell it.

He explained: “I wanted the extra bedroom for my staff who will live in it. The shutters are the sort of colour that fit in with other similar types of store.”