Matalan seeks booze licence

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.