AN IRVINE convenience store has been given its alcohol licence back - despite concerns about noisy behaviour in the area.

Muhammed Annees made the application to the North Ayrshire licensing board for Costcutter, in Ladyha Court, Girdle Toll - which if granted would create extra jobs.

The store owner’s legal representative said: “The display area of alcohol would represent 13.7 per cent of the total display area.

“The premises previously did enjoy a licence, but following a disagreement with the previous owner, it was surrendered.

“As a concerned grocer, Mr Annees feels without a licence he has a material disadvantage as premises similar to his own have a licence.

“His customers ask why he doesn’t have a licence as they would prefer to do shopping all in one place. 

“The applicant maintains his shop is well run. There was one complaint, which was an isolated matter, which I asked the board to disregard. 

“The shop is in the middle of a large and growing community. The applicant advised 200 new houses were built at Annick Gardens and another one of 90 houses is planned.

“Some of the workers from the building sites nearby use his shops. 

“The applicant wants to provide a full range of products which people expect in a convenience store – society is now more  community-orientated.  Shops provide a place for social interaction.”

The shop is currently open from 7am to 6pm but the licence application stated this would change to 7am-10pm if the licence were granted.

Two new full-time and two new part-time staff will be engaged.

Mr Annees' legal representative said the nearby BP garage was recently granted a licence and it was unfair if his client did not have one.

Councillor Christina Larsen, who opposed the application, said a letter had been received saying there were issues regarding teenagers loitering outside the shop intimidating elderly people.

Mr Annees said he had been running the shop since 2006 and was not aware of any problems, but that there was CCTV around the shop which was regularly monitored.

He told Councillor Donald L. Reid, who supported the application, that shop staff would call police if there were any problems in the vicinity.

The shop owners said people from across the community were behind the application.

Councillor Reid's motion to grant the licence, seconded by Councillor Jean McClung, was approved.

A motion to refuse the application, proposed by Cllr Larsen and seconded by Cllr John Bell, fell after it didn't receive enough support from the board.