Proposals for an alcohol licence at a busy Irvine petrol station were given the green light on Monday, June 25.

It comes despite concerns about public health and so many other premises having booze on offer.

Monday’s licensing board meeting of North Ayrshir Council considered the application from Highland Fuels Ltd for a provisional premises licence for an off-sales at the petrol filling station at A737 in Kilwinning Road, Irvine.

The premises have been operating for many months as an Esso, with a Morrisons Daily supermarket convenience store, which replaced an onsite shop following its demolition.

The proposal is that, in addition to selling groceries, the premises should have an off-sales facility.  The proposed display capacity is 20.6 square metres. 

Solicitor Andrew Hunter said:  “The premises have been renovated at the cost of £1.7 million over a three or four month period.

“This site has undergone a substantial renovation as an Esso, with a Morrisons Daily and convenience store or supermarket.

“They have six premises across the country and all operate without any difficulty.

“Since reopening the benefit to the local community in terms of the store is one which the applicant is reaping and there are 8,500 customers per week. 

“They currently employ 16 staff and subject to the licence be granted we hope to recruit another three.

“We would hope to recruit a further three members of staff if it goes ahead. 

“In all, 58 per cent of the alcohol capacity is spread over four premises in Irvine.

“There’s nothing extraordinary about the amount of alcohol space –  20.6 square metres – as opposed to 204 sq metres of  retail space – about 10 per cent which is completely in keeping with a convenience store of this size.

“Alcohol is in the back corner of the premises, away from the door which helps with security.

“Nothing is out of kilter with the size of the premises.”

Tory councillor Cameron Inglis said: “For me this is against the public health risk in my opinion.”

SNP councillor Christana Larsen said she was concerned some 15 other premises were already selling alcohol locally and this would add to the options available.

Tory councillor Matthew McLean asked if the store would be able to cope with the influx of children at lunchtime.

Highland Fuels representative Colin Begg said there was already an additional member of staff at the door and letting only up to five children in at a time helped maintain control.

He suggested having temporary barriers up at that time against the alcohol display if the licence went ahead.

The store would not stock the likes of Dragon Soup or Buckfast which some youngsters were attracted to, he added.

A proposal to accept the application as put forward by councillor Nairn McDonald and was granted by the licensing board.