An East Lothian Asda have been refused a licence to sell alcohol from a petrol station ‘100 metres’ from its main store for community safety.
The supermarket chain, which is rolling out a national programme of upgrades in filling stations across the country, wanted to turn their Tranent premises into the latest convenience store selling alcohol.
However a meeting of East Lothian Licensing Board heard concerns about the proximity of the main store to it and pressure already on staff from shoplifters.
Local ward councillor Lee-Anne Menzies told fellow board members that it was not uncommon to find drug dealers selling alcohol from the store along a path behind it saying ‘a couple of gardens are like mini marts”.
Last year the board granted a licence to sell alcohol to the Asda Express based at Haddington’s Gateside retail park after its agent argued that it was a primary source of fuel and groceries for local residents and met current legislation.
However while the board agreed the filling station at Gateside was also a convenience store with a large offering of food items, members did not agree that the Tranent Petrol Station was also used as a shop.
Petrol stations are generally considered ‘excluded premises’ which cannot sell alcohol unless it is proven customers would be disadvantaged by losing access to groceries or fuel at it and Asda’s agent argued that a recent survey showed most people used it for fuel meeting the criteria.
However Councillor Menzies said: “People are not seeing it as a convenience store, it is a petrol station that is 100 metres from the main store.”
She added: “The main store is poorly staffed on some days and relies on self check outs. Staff are under stress particularly when shoplifters who are well known walk in.
“Opening up alcohol in the petrol station will give them (shoplifters) the chance to walk in and fill their boots before walking right out again.”
Councillors Menzies voted against the licence for community and staff safety.
She was backed by Councillor Neil Gilbert who said: “The premises is not operating as a convenience store and is primarily a filling station.”
Fellow board member and local councillor Fiona Dugdale, however, said that in her view Asda had met the legislation requirements to have a licence by showing people used in mainly for fuel, as she backed the licence application.
Councillor John McMillan, who was standing in as chairperson of the board, said while it may meet the legislation, questions had to be asked about its strength.
He said: “Given the concerns I have heard from local members I an minded not to grant this licence in terms of safety and community well being. It meets the test but the legislation is not sufficient and needs to be looked at.”
Councillors McMIllan, Gilbert and Menzies voted to refuse the application with Councillor Dugdale voted for it.
A request on Asda’s behalf to be allowed to submit a new application earlier than the normal one year delay was granted by the board by majority.
