Plans for a provisional licence for a revamped garage in Stevenston have been given the green light, despite concerns about over-provision of alcohol in the community.
Motor Fuel Ltd in Kilwinning Road came before the North Ayrshire Licensing Board on Monday.
Solicitor Andrew Hunter, representing the company, said: “Morrisons have sold all their petrol stations in Scotland and Motor Fuel Ltd have taken all these on and are renovating them.
“They are moving from a can of juice and cigarettes style petrol station into a more significant convenience offer. This is similar to what Motor Fuel Ltd does across Scotland and the Stevenston one has been renovated.
“As part of the acquisition of the site, the staff are re-integrated into the supermarket.
“The company have taken on five new staff, three full-time and two part-time with the facility opening last month. It is trading as a Morrisons Daily but the inside of the store is the Motor Fuel part of it.
“The renovation spend has been £65,000 and there will probably be more renovation next year as the premises looks to have electronic charging locations there.
“The licence is part of improving the convenience offer from the premises and securing the long-term future of the site.”
He said there were no plans to compete with Morrisons.
Mr Hunter added: “For those picking a small amount of groceries, there will be an opportunity to offer people small provision of beer or wine if that is their choice.
“The space of just over nine square metres is far less than Morrisons nearby and all staff coming to Stevenston have experience.”
Research, he said, showed that 12 per cent of people were stating they were reliant on the store which is just slightly lower than Ravenspark at 17 per cent.
He expected that number to go up in a few months’ time when they checked again.
Mr Hunter said the capacity was less than one per cent of the capacity in the location and there had been no objections to the plans.
He said he hoped it would secure the long-term future of the site as staff-filled premises at some similar facilities were moving more to pay-at-the-pump facilities.
Cameron Inglis put forward a motion to refuse application for over-provision.
Chair Eleanor Collier proposed granting the licence as it was a small amount of alcohol and seemed a well-run premises.
The vote was deadlocked at 2-2 but the chair had the casting vote and the application was approved.
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