Two West Lothian convenience stores have been granted licences to sell alcohol despite concerns about over-provision.
The stores in Armadale and Whitburn have been operating under occasional licences without issues, members of West Lothian’s Licensing Board heard.
The Board rejected objections raised by NHS Lothian concerned at the over-provision of sales in Whitburn saying that generic objections on health grounds could not bar the council from issuing a licence.
Armadale Premier store operating in a former convenience store premises in West Main Street was granted a Provisional Premises Licence.
An agent for the applicant said he was an experienced operator having opened the new business in West Lothian after retiring from similar businesses he had set up in Fife.
The store, a former McColl’s outlet, had previously operated as a licensed premises. The board heard there had been no public or police objections.
In Whitburn a small convenience store at 76 White Street had operated under occasional licences until April this year. An agent for the applicant said his client held a personal licence and was trained in alcohol sales and restrictions.
NHS Lothian had submitted a written objection stating concerns about over-provision of alcohol sales in the area. The agent pointed ut that there was only one other store within the immediate area. The other outlets are clubs.
The agent added: “We would respectfully submit that there is no over-provision in the locality.”
He added that the NHS objection did not show specifically that granting a full licence to the 1st Choice store, a small shop, would have a negative impact.
Recommending the licence should be granted, Chair of the Board Councillor Tony Boyle said the NHS objection “did not give the Board any legal reason refuse the application
He added: “The objection does not provide sufficient evidence in law to support the grounds for refusal. Speculation about health harms is not sufficient grounds for which to refuse an application.”
By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter
