Tesco will make a third bid for an alcohol licence at its proposed Express store in Malew Street, part of Callow’s Yard, in Castletown.
The store’s application for an off licence is due before the licensing court at 10am on Thursday, July 11.
It is seeking to appoint as initial designated officials Debbie Britten, of Orchid Close, Governor’s Hill, Douglas, Karen Slinger, of Cooil Drive, Douglas, and Natalie Marsden, of Harbour Road, Onchan.
A copy of the application and the plans maybe inspected at the office’s of advocate John Wright at John Wright Legal Consultant, Oikyn yn Waag, 16 Willowbrook Gardens, Douglas, phone 611999, 494640 or email thie-awin@manx.net
Anyone wishing to make objection to the application may appear in person, or represented by an advocate, at the hearing providing not less than three days before the date they lodge with the office of the High Bailiff a written outline of their objection and serve a copy on the applicant using John Wright’s address.
Tesco’s first failed bid to secure a licence for the proposed Castletown store was in April 2012 and a second in October 2012 also failed.
Given the great number of licensed premises already in town, the court said it was not satisfied there was a need for another outlet selling alcohol. Tesco commissioned Ashgrove Marketing to carry out a survey of alcohol shopping in the south, which was submitted to the October hearing, but the court dismissed the findings as not ‘credible evidence’ due to its ‘limited circulation’ and it did not ask directly if there was a need for an additional licence.
The store held a private meeting with Castletown Commissioners on June 13 to discuss applying for another alcohol licence. At last week’s local authority meeting, on June 24, commissioners’ chairman said the board will meet – in private – on July 4, to discuss their stance on the store’s bid for another licence. He said: ‘We will need to sit down and discuss it as a board.’
In the past, the authority has expressed concern about the impact of an Express store on established businesses in town, parking and the impact of deliveries on nearby residents.
The town’s MHK Richard Ronan has also raised concerns about the impact on the town’s other businesses and the police are concerned about another licensed premise attracting anti-social behaviour to the area.
Members of the public seem split on whether a Tesco Express store would be good or bad for the town. Some have said it will create jobs and give greater choice; others are worried about the impact on other traders.