Green light for Nunsthorpe store to sell alcohol early
A CONVENIENCE store's plans to sell booze at breakfast has "reluctantly" been given the go-ahead.
The Lincolnshire Co-operative, in Second Avenue, on Grimsby's Nunsthorpe Estate, applied to North East Lincolnshire Council for permission to sell alcohol from 7am, as reported.
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STORE WARS: The Co-op in Second Avenue, Nunsthorpe.
The store trades from 7am until 8pm seven days a week, and the firm wanted to bring the alcohol licence in line with opening times.
The proposal was discussed by councillors at a meeting held in Grimsby Town Hall yesterday afternoon.
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Members of the Licensing Sub-Committee spent about 40 minutes debating the proposal and also took into consideration a 129-name petition opposing the change.
Conservative councillor David Hornby, who was elected chairman of the meeting, said: "The committee has reluctantly come to the decision to grant the variation as applied for. Although the committee understands the concerns that the petition signatories have regarding this variation of the licence, we have found no evidence that the objectives would be compromised by granting this application.
"There have been no representations from responsible authorities and the committee feels that the store is actively promoting the licensing objectives. We would like to take this opportunity to reassure residents that should the licensing objectives be contravened, complaints can be made.
"Should this matter then be brought before the licensing sub committee it will take a very dim view on the matter and take all appropriate measures necessary to rectify the situation."
Petition organiser Irene Williams voiced her concerns over the changes.
The 65-year-old, of Kingsley Grove, Grimsby, said: "Children shouldn't be seeing alcohol in their faces before school. Everyone is entitled to a drink, but you will have children and teenagers thinking it is normal to buy it at those times.
"The Co-op should have some responsibility. The store is fantastic but I do think they should consider the community and set an example.
"If one child is able to get hold of alcohol we could lose that person to drink for years to come.
"You do see people drinking on the estate and it does have to be said they do not always cause anti-social behaviour but children see it and think it is normal."
Chris Cocking, food store operations manager at Lincolnshire Co-operative, said: "We operate 75 stores and we are reviewing the licences at all shops.
"At this stage, there are no plans to extend the opening hours; just bring the licence in line with the store's opening times."
Speaking after the meeting, Mrs Williams said: "I thought it might go that way but if you don't try, you can't complain later on."
Comments
by EnlightendOne
Friday, September 28 2012, 10:20PM
“It is not up to councillors to make subjective planning decisions brought about by ill founded political interest - it is about making judgements based on the legitimate grounds for refusal - that's about NONE. To make such ill conceived judgement surely leaves us at the expense of appeal and more wasted cost - best not blame the council for that if that is what the electorate want - but I think not!”
by porcelainblak
Friday, September 28 2012, 9:40PM
“Yet again we see how spineless the councillors of this town are.
If they were "reluctant" to grant the application they should have refused it and stood by their decision.
I couldn't care less whether it was granted or not, but why didn't the council just grant permission and do it without lame excuses?”
by EnlightendOne
Friday, September 28 2012, 7:32PM
“Something out of nothing - an extra hour of trading booze- who really gives a damn when the individuals can get it round the corner in any event and still cause anti social behaviour. It's time the police started enforcing the laws and dealing with the anti social behaviour that riddles our streets.”
by JonathanGTFC
Friday, September 28 2012, 3:45PM
“Shame on you, shame on you Bendall, you didnt read the article! It was local councillors that approved the proposal. How much profit are they going to make between 7am and 8am? Its just a very simple solution to align the opening hours with the licensing hours.”
by bendall
Friday, September 28 2012, 3:28PM
“Definitely profit before anything else...so don't go complaining when the folk you sell booze to at 7am are drunk on your doorstep at noon.... Shame on you, shame on you Co-op. This licence didn't have to be granted”
by oOrotavatorOo
Friday, September 28 2012, 2:31PM
“.....WHAT U LOOKIN` AT ?.....YOU`LL NEVVA TEK ME ALIVE , COPPA!!!... I`LL F*****, I`LL F****** I`LL F***** TEK U ALL ON......etc etc . How nice for the kids on their way to school. Pass me the medicine please Nurse................”
by JonathanGTFC
Friday, September 28 2012, 1:49PM
“Smoker. Co-op 'exploiting' people is not something I approve of or agree with, I stated it as a fact. It isnt a secret I have just imparted, everyone knows that corner shops/convenience stores are more expensive than supermarket shopping. All I was saying, is why are people surprised?
I never stated that Co-op had poor economies of scale at all. I said Tesco had huge economies of scale. Co-op will have decent buying power, but will not compete with Tesco/Asda/Morrisons/Sainsburys. My point is that they can put in a pricing strategy to maximise profit in an area. It's business not 'shoddy trading'.”
by 01GrimReaper
Friday, September 28 2012, 1:36PM
“Lots and lots of Tesco express 'convenience stores' popping up yet they dont feel the need to hyper-inflate their prices to take advantage of people having to shop local."
Now that statement I have to disagree with. As a matter of course Tesco will charge more at Tesco Express than at their large stores. Their answer, market forces. Same reasoning as to why petrol is 3p per litre more expensive on the doorstep of two refineries than in Doncaster or York or Sheffield.
If you do not like the prices charged by whichever outlet, then don't buy. We seem to idle to shop around nowadays.”
by smoker
Friday, September 28 2012, 1:12PM
“JonathanGTFC,
There are two points in your argument that I would strongly disagree with. Firstly, you seem to think that the Coop exploiting those that can't afford a car is fair and reasonable. I don't. It's just another case of being in a position to exploit those on a low income. Secondly, you state that the Coop has poor economy of scale. Check out just which food chains they do own. You may be surprised. There's no excuse for huge profit margins other than the fact that they think they can get away with it, which is very shoddy trading in my opinion.”
by JonathanGTFC
Friday, September 28 2012, 12:31PM
“Whether I/we think it is acceptible or not doesnt matter, people pay it so they are more than happy to charge it. If people don't like it they can get on the bus to a Supermarket! The franchised Co-Ops can essentially charge what they like. Might not be moral but they will know the statistics on car ownership and unemployment and know that a good enough proportion of the surrounding area will have little choice but to use it, so they can pick their prices from thin air!
Tesco have huge economies of scale and buying power and therefore can near enough maintain the prices at their Superstores etc.”