A new off-licence is set to open and sell booze until 11pm despite anger from local residents who revealed they are already "terrified" to walk home at night.

Tolworth residents claimed drunken behaviour in their neighbourhood is "off the charts" and the decline of the area has been "horrific" over the past decade as they raised fears this would get worse with another off-licence.

Kingston Council's licensing sub-committee acknowledged "sincere concerns" raised by residents about crime in Tolworth Broadway but decided to grant the application for Simply, on Ewell Road, after ruling the new shop will be far enough away from the area.

The committee's ruling read: "It was noted that the conditions in the application plus the additional conditions would address the management of the premises.

"The licensing sub-committee considered the effect of the application for a new premises licence on local residents and acknowledged the sincere concerns on crime and disorder and other issues in the Broadway area (that may be for consideration elsewhere) but considered that this premises would be a sufficient distance away from that area and its issues."

The committee said anyone can submit an application for a review of the licence should "any problems arise".

The committee also added conditions to the licence, including all booze being sold in a sealed container and staff being "suitably trained in underage sales prevention and dealing with difficult and drunk customers before making any sales of alcohol".

It follows 106 people signing a petition against the plans. Neighbour Nimit Shah told the licensing committee on May 11 residents organised the petition due to "outrage, uproar, disappointment, you name it, to the detrimental and antisocial behaviour that this late-night off-licence could bring to our local community".

Having lived in Tolworth all his life, Mr Shah claimed he has "seen this place get worse" and crime levels rise.

He said: "As a guy, I'm pretty terrified to walk through this area when I'm coming back from work late at night because, having lived here, having made this commute every day, the street drinking and just the level of drunken behaviour is off the charts.

"I've had a guy abuse me once because I crossed the road, tried to avoid him, obviously steaming drunk, and was told to go back to my own country. I'm a British citizen."

Penny Dee has lived in Tolworth for 53 years and said the "decline" of the area over the past decade is "nothing short of horrific". She said: "I, myself in a very close vicinity to the shop, I have Ring doorbell footage, I have cameras all over my property, of people defecating in my front garden on a regular basis."

She added: "There's been a large response from the local area. We do not want this. The area is saturated with takeaway shops selling alcohol, it's too much. If you lived here, you'd see it every day and every night. I can only come home in a cab, public transport and walking is not an option."

Personal Licence Courses UK applied to the council for the new licence on behalf of Manpreet Singh Madhan. The application received 10 objections ahead of the meeting, with one objector writing: "There will be increased crime and disorder along with public safety as people are scared to walk in Tolworth at night now."

No objections were received from responsible authorities, including the Met Police.

Licensing consultant Surendra Panchal, representing the applicant, said Mr Singh is experienced in running off-licences and the application falls within the core hours of the council's licensing policy. Mr Panchal raised concerns the objections related more closely to the need for an off-licence in the area, which was not a concern for the committee.

He said: "There will be no alcohol served to anybody who is drunk. That is something that my client understands with his experience of four years running premises previously, without having any breaches. He will make sure the premises is kept clean in front every morning before he opens and after the premises closes."

Responding to residents' concerns, Mr Panchal said Mr Singh "understands the Licensing Act very well" and would make sure he complied with all conditions, including training staff and keeping an incident log.

He said: "Mr Manpreet Singh is here to make sure he follows all of the licensing objectives. He robustly wants to promote them, which will be an advantage to his business."

He added: "There will be a lot of improvement in the area. There will be CCTV laid out, there will be lighting in front of the shop which will make sure the place is lit up. He will be making sure no street drinkers are served. He will be making sure no litter is going to be out there. He isn't going to be playing any music."

Following the committee's decision, Simply has permission to sell booze from 7am to 11pm every day.