POLICE worry a new online supermarket’s plan contains ‘gaps of concern’, while residents said it could increase trouble on East Oxford’s streets.

8DOL is marketed as a ‘cloud supermarket’ which offers more than 500 grocery items from an app and delivered by bike riders.

In the UK, it operates in Bournemouth and Southampton. It has also been run in China since 2013.

The company now wants to run from 174c Cowley Road to serve Oxford’s student market – but police and residents have worried it could cause nuisance.

Thames Valley Police said it is ‘still not in a position’ where it is ‘wholly satisfied’ with the application, while city councillor Craig Simmons said 8DOL selling alcohol is ‘likely to exacerbate an already unacceptable situation’.

TVP has lined up conditions it would want 8DOL to adhere to if city councillors agree to give it a licence to operate in Oxford next Monday.

It would not be allowed to sell super-strength beers, lagers or ciders of 5.5 per cent ABV (alcohol by volume) or more and any customers would need to confirm they are an adult when they buy any alcohol.

8DOL would also need to operate a ‘Challenge 25’ policy, asking people who look under that age to produce ID on delivery.

The police said conditions were ‘not particularly onerous’ but had not been ‘amenable’ to John Gaunt & Partners, working on behalf of 8DOL.

But John Gaunt & Partners stated in documents: “There have been no incidents at either Bournemouth or Southampton which have given rise to the riders needing any assistance.”

It added: “So far only one sale has been refused. This was to a chap who had ordered some filters (an age restricted product).

“He was asked for ID which he did not have on him and so the item was removed from his shop and refunded.

"There is no conflict in requesting the ID given the person has given their name and address and thus know their details are on record.”

But it said asking the company to record every time it asked customers for ID would be too much work and not asked of any other business selling alcohol.

Bullingdon Road Neighbourhood Watch Group is objecting. It said the business itself was ‘welcome’ – but for it to sell booze was ‘unsuitable’ because of the availability of it nearby, mainly from supermarkets.

Dick Wolff, another city councillor, said he was worried any licence would be ‘uncontrollable and impossible to monitor’.

‘Realistically, a delivery agent is not going to refuse to deliver’ to someone without ID or underage, he claimed.

The city council’s licensing and gambling acts casework sub-committee will be asked to decide 8DOL’s application on Monday.