AN application to serve alcohol at a Lowton shop which has divided opinion among residents has been granted.

The licensing sub-committee have the green light in a meeting on Tuesday to allow the News Ont Corner store on Slag Lane to serve alcohol at the premises under the name of the News and Wine Corner.

The shop, which has been a newsagent for around 40 years, is set to be run by the proposed new owner Mr Sundaralingam Mugunthan.

There have been two petitions with 142 and 25 signatures on either one as well as 17 letters or emails all in support of the application.

A total of 17 objections have been sent to the council about the plans.

The application states: “The focus of the shop will continue to be as a general convenience store for the benefit of the local community and the proposed sale of alcohol would just be part of the business- allbeit an important one part to help the business develop and be competitive.

“The layout of the shop has been carefully considered and alcohol would be located away from the entrance, with spirits being kept behind the counter.

“The applicant has plenty of retail knowledge and experience of working in licensed convenience stores.”

The licence application includes proposals to install a CCTV camera system including facial recognition.

Training will be given to staff to deal to make sure alcohol sales to underage drinkers are not made and public nuisance outside the store is controlled.

In the letters of support, there were concerns that the shop would close down and be left empty if it is not approved.

The store has been described as a “hub” of the area which delivers 200 papers and magazines to customers and “elderly residents rely” on it.

In opposition to the plans, residents aired fears that granting a licence to serve alcohol would cause “unwanted noise, traffic and sometimes anti-social behaviour”.

Another resident said that the sale of alcohol at the shop may result in armed robberies taking place there after making comparisons with the Co-Op store on Church Lane which has been targeted.

The license was approved under the condition that the shop sells alcohol between 8am and 10pm rather than the proposed hours of 6am to 11pm.