Asda Tain booze bid comes before officials
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OFF-SALES alcohol provision in a Ross-shire town is set to rise by some 40 per cent if a superstore is successful in winning approval for a drinks application next week.
Supermarket chain Asda has lodged an application for a premises licence for its Knockbreck Road store in Tain.
The application is set to come before the Highland Licensing Board on Tuesday next week.
The licensing standards officer says in a report that will be laid before councillors that the applicant is a national store chain which proposes to operate a purpose-built supermarket selling a wide range of products at the site adjoining the A9.
The report states that Asda plans to sell alcohol by off-sales only between 10am and 10pm. It says: "The activities are reasonable and appropriate for this type of operation."
Policies regarding potential over-provision of alcohol in a given geographical area must be considered.
The report says thereare currently five premises in the locality licensed to sell alcohol solely by off-sales with a total capacity of 308.42m.sq. devoted to alcohol.
Three national supermarket chains are already trading, contributing a capacity of approximately 268 m.sq.
The report says: "The applicant seeks an off-sales capacity of 120.76155 m.sq. which amounts to an increase in overall capacity for Tain of approximately 39.2 per cent."
Six other premises in the locality are licensed alcohol to sell by both on and off sales. Five of those premises operate traditional “bars” with an off-sales capacity of 20.7m.sq. A distillery visitor centre with a minor on-sales element has a capacity of 63.5m.sq. of alcohol devoted to its own products.
The report goes on: "The locality of Tain has a population of approximately 4,100. The council ward of Tain and Easter Ross, which includes the communities of Tain, Balintore, Milton and Kildary and Portmahomack has a population of around 8,600.
"Asda Stores Ltd is a high profile operator with a limited presence in the Highlands. It is likely that a large number of people will be prepared to travel a significant distance to visit the store."
No objections to the proposal have been received.
Pick up next week's Journal for a determination on this application.
