Booze could go on sale at Keighley Railway Station.
And the move has angered some, who fear it may lead to alcohol-fuelled problems on trains.
An application to sell alcohol from the old parcel office has been submitted to Bradford Council.
Hours would be from 9am until midnight Fridays and Saturdays and 11pm other days.
Keighley Central councillor and Lord Mayor of Bradford Khadim Hussain said he was against the plan. “I’ve returned from London on late trains and seen the behaviour of some people who have been drinking,” he said.
“It is an issue, and making alcohol available at Keighley Station can only compound problems.”
Tim Calow, chairman of the Aire Valley Rail Users’ Group, said: “There are certainly problems with some people being drunk and disorderly on services late at night. The biggest numbers are probably people who have been drinking in Leeds.”
It is believed the area currently occupied by Keighley Station’s newspaper outlet, The Kiosk, will be included in the proposed retail site. The 32-year-old who runs The Kiosk, who did not want to be named, said he had been given notice to quit.
“I was given six months’ notice but it expired at the end of June and they keep extending it,” he said. “I’ve been here 13 years and I don’t wish to go – I’ll just have to see what happens.”
Commercial property firm Lambert Smith Hampton, whose clients include Northern Rail, said it was in negotiations regarding the site.
“We have agreed outline terms for the property but a deal hasn’t gone through at this time, so at this stage we cannot comment any further,” said a spokesman.
Coun Graham Mitchell, chairman of Keighley Town Council’s watch and transport committee, said he was unaware of the licence application, but that it would be raised at the committee’s next meeting.
He added: “It would be a pity if the newsagents was lost – I and a lot of other people buy papers there. I hope that facility can be maintained.”
But Keighley MP Kris Hopkins said he would not be against a new retail unit opening at the station. “It is a great railway station, which I don’t think is used enough,” he added. “If we get a good, high-quality retail unit, I would welcome it.”
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