A BID for a provisional premises licence for a Helensburgh convenience store has attracted an objection from the public.
The Premier store, at 12 Mains Avenue, is the subject of an application by Manuraaj Kumar which will be heard by councillors at a meeting next week.
But an objection has been submitted to the Argyll and Bute licensing board, citing concerns about the store being in a residential area, and parking issues.
A statement in response has been submitted on behalf of the applicant ahead of the licensing board’s meeting on Tuesday, June 23.
The objection letter, submitted by residents in a property elsewhere in the street, said: “There are several reasons for this objection. This is a residential area, not a retail area. There are a lot of children playing outside on bikes and scooters.
“There are severe parking issues already for residents and this would multiply the problem hugely, due customers and deliveries. We feel it would also encourage groups of youths, with no connection to the area, to hang around the area.
“We also feel that an A4 sheet of paper on the shutter door is not prominent enough to be seen by the general public driving past. We cannot stress enough the objections that we and our neighbours feel regarding this.”
A statement on the applicant’s behalf said: “The applicant…has invested in this property, which is currently under renovation. He depends on the support of the local community for the success of the business and would not risk his investment or livelihood by causing disturbance.
“The convenience store has been closed for some time and is currently in very poor condition, making it an eyesore for the community.
“The local community needs a convenience store. While we fully respect the concerns raised by [the residents] who object to the application, we would also like to highlight that many long-standing residents welcome this proposal.
“According to my client, this is a retail premises, as shown in the images below. It was previously used as a convenience store with a Post Office and held an alcohol licence, serving the community for several years.
“The shop also has its own parking area, with space for three to four cars at any time. This is my client’s livelihood and we kindly request that you grant the licence.”
