A short-lived off-licence in Rodbourne Cheney has had its licence revoked, after police suspected it was linked to organised crime and local residents complained of anti-social behaviour in the area caused by its presence.

Moredon Off Licence at 275 Whitworth Road, formerly a post office, was granted a licence to sell alcohol last October – but it was revoked again in April this year after police echoed the concerns of local residents.

Councillor Jim Grant, a Labour representative for Rodbourne Cheney, said: “The police and the local residents were against it having its licence, because it generated anti-social behaviour around the area.

“You had young kids hanging around outside trying to get people to buy them alcohol. There was a general feeling that it wasn’t really required: there are other outlets around there.

Of the council’s original decision to award the licence, he said: “I don’t think it was a suitable venue for the sale of alcohol, for the very reason that this would happen.”

The business was closed at the time of writing, and were unavailable to be sought for comment. The “off-licence” sign continues to be displayed, along with signage denoting wine, spirits and tobacco for sale.

The Licensing Panel at Swindon Borough Council originally approved the application for a seven-day-a-week licence at a meeting on 4 October 2016, after a post office on the same site closed.

Residents, represented by Cllr Peter Watts, highlighted a number of concerns at the time. They included that three supermarkets in the local vicinity meant there was no need for a new business selling alcohol.

A petition with eight signatures opposing the opening of the off-licence was also presented.

By the time the licence was revoked six months later, a number of objections to the business had come to fruition, including those stemming from two Wiltshire Police visits.

On the first, on 20 December 2016, Ali Sari – who staff believed was the manager of the business – was arrested for driving while under the influence of cannabis after receiving a call from the off-licence.

Then on December 31, during a police visit to the premises, two members of staff on duty said that they had not received training from Gonul Howell, in whose name the licence was held – nor did they know that she was the licence holder or designated supervisor.

Police also advised that they believed the store had links to organised crime, and the application had been made in Ms Howell’s name as neither Mr Sari nor his partner, Cem Keskin, would have had applications in their names accepted.

The decision to revoke the licence was made as the council concluded, among other reasons, that Ms Howell was not in control of the business, and that staff on the premises were not adequately trained to sell alcohol.