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Matalan seeks booze licence
Date published: 20 August 2009
RESIDENTS were left scratching their heads after discount fashion store Matalan submitted an application to sell alcohol in Oldham.
There were fears that the retailer would become the latest to sell cheap booze adding to the borough’s binge drinking problems.
But store bosses, renowned for specialising in homewares and clothes, say they aren’t planning to move into the off-licence market — they merely need permission to sell alcohol in Christmas gift packages. Stocking fillers such as a miniature bottle of Jack Daniels and a whisky glass or a pack of liqueurs requires a licence to sell alcohol.
However, the licence applied for would permit Matalan to sell any kind of alcohol all-year-round.
One resident acted with anger at the prospect of the store at the Alexandra Retail Park being allowed to sell alcohol from 6am to midnight.
But a Matalan spokeswoman insisted the licence was purely for the sale of small Christmas gifts. She added: “Matalan has applied for individual store licences to sell alcohol. This is for a new range of gifts that will be on sale for Christmas. The alcohol will be sold as part of product gift sets and will only be applicable to certain stores.”
An Oldham Council spokesman said an application was received on Tuesday.
There is a 28-day period in which the public can raise objections. If no objections are raised the application will be automatically granted.
If objections are raised, the application will go through a mediation process with Trading Standards and if that was unsuccessful it would go before a licensing panel to decide.
Comments
so knowing our DICTATORSHIP under sykes the one complaining will stop the licence being issued
To Keith,i live close to Matalan and in the past the site as been used late at night for all kinds of antisocial behaviour including loud music being played from cars into the early hours of the morning depriving residents who have to get up for work a good nights sleep.At the moment the gates to the site are locked fairly early and i for one cant see why Matalan would be applying for a 6am -12pm licence if they dont intend to be opening at those times.It doesnt make any sense at all.???
Is Oldham councils aim to become the first town in the country to enforce Prohibition. I personally cannot wait to pop into my local speakeasy, where everyone can drink, smoke, sing and generally have a good time without having to look over my shoulder for the council Stormtroopers.
Ha ha very funny Keith. We had 20 years of misery under a Stalinist Labour Council and you think the Libs are bad. You're obviously a newcomer to Oldham or a sadly deluded Labour supporter. They're not great I'll grant you but infinitely better than the last lot.
im getting fed up of sykes and his regime telling me what i can and cannot do. if you are an oldhamer you are slowly being reduced to having nothing!
poor roads, useless services, idiotic planning to name a few. now he doesnt want you to enjoy cheap drinks promotions. every other city and town has them! the difference is they police their areas well to prevent the trouble! he doesnt! therefore he creates the problem in the first place!
Have Your Say
Although there has been a well publicized account of the increase in binge drinking in oldham, this minority of people as I see it do not represent the rest of the population of oldham that do drink responsibly. So I believe Matalan should not be looked upon unfavourably because they have chosen to apply for a alcohol license.
By Neo @ 20/08/2009 14:19:38