Owners of a Garnock Valley convenience store have been given the green light to double their alcohol display after licensing chiefs heard the premises were undergoing a major extension.
Binning Stores applied to North Ayrshire licensing board for variation of a premises licence by adding recorded music, providing home delivery and increasing alcohol capacity from 11.39 sq m to 23.38 sq m.
Owners Inderjit and Charienj Binning were represented by lawyer Stephen McGowan.
Mr McGowan said: “This is a local convenience store which my clients have been running since 2000. They are well-kent faces, proud of their relationship with neighbours and customers who have an excellent track record as responsible licence holders.
“They are a local convenience store which sells alcohol responsibly.
“The family previously ran three premises, with one in Dalry and two others in Ayr and Dalmellington. During Covid they gave up the other two to focus their efforts on Dalry.
“This is about coming out of the other two shops and investing in Dalry premises and embarking upon an impressive extension.
“Today is a very important day for these guys and I have tried to do my best for them.
“You have seen that the alcohol area has increased from 11.39 sqm to 23sqm and that will have pricked your attentions.
“Hopefully you will see this as an exception to policy and exceptional application. I will argue that this application and proposal will embolden your objectives.
“The shop is more than doubling in size, they have taken over the property next door and there is space to the back of it. This will be a real asset to the local community.
“This is not a retailer who wants to double the amount of booze they have. The store is going up from 58 sqm to 152.6 sqm.
“The alcohol capacity is now 7.426 per cent and will now go down to 4.583 because of other things on display. It’s much lower than you would expect to see in a local convenience store.
“The overall expansion will have a huge impact on the store and soft drinks will increase by 105 per cent increase, chill fresh foods have gone up by 250 per cent, frozen food is up by 60 per cent. In fact alcohol is the only commodity to go down in size.”
Feedback to the plans had been very positive in the community.
The vast majority of the alcohol, Mr McGowan said, would be located in a controlled area, access to which would only be gained by pressing a button.
Councillor Cameron Inglis asked who would make the home deliveries and Mr McGowan confirmed all staff were trained on the correct ways to refuse alcohol service if necessary.
The committee agreed to grant the variation of licence.
