Concerns but Lidl get extra space for festive drinks
Budget supermarket giants Lidl were not immune to the concerns of the new board and came close to being refused extra space for displaying alcohol over the festive period.
The retailer’s application sought to increase the amount of floorspace dedicated to alcohol sales – from 43.88 square metres to 47.66 square metres plus another additional 12.02 square metres from December 1 until January 2 each year at its store in Players Road, Springkerse, to cope with “seasonal demand”.
Councillor Graham Houston asked how a 25 per cent increase in capacity could be justified over the festive period and said it was“clearly an attempt to increase sales of alcohol”.
An agent for Lidl said the retailer’s approach was to apply for the increase over the festive period whereas many other retailers often sought much larger capacity all year to allow them to fill some of the shelves with soft drinks and non-alcoholic drinks until the festive season.
He added that inevitably more alcohol was sold over the festive period anyway and other products and ranges available, plus having more capacity meant staff were able to deal with customers rather than continually replenishing the shelves.
“In the grand scheme of things Lidl as an operator is one of the smallest of any of the supermarkets in terms of capacity for alcohol.”
Board chairman councillor Danny Gibson said he was reluctant to approve the move, adding that while a previous board had in the past given the go-ahead to Aldi for a similar application, the current board had to take its own decision on the Lidl application.
He said: “I appreciate it is going to be busier but it just means more time managing stock. I wouldn’t want to indicate that the board was encouraging an increase from a public health perspective.”
Board clerk Iain Strachan said if the application was refused he wouldn’t be confident that it would be a “robust decision”.
Councillor Jim Thomson said:“I feel quite uneasy at this meeting that we are trying to develop policy on the hoof. I take on board everything that has been said. I think we have problems with cheap drink being sold from supermarkets, not just Lidl. Cheap alcohol is a problem.
“But the application is consistent with the board’s policy statement.”
Agreeing, Councillor Martin Earl said:“I would expect to see an approval and would be very uncomfortable if the board did not follow that course of action today.”
Councillor Douglas Dodds, who had earlier voted to reject the Raploch Road application, also agreed but added:“The quicker we look at our policy the better as we will continue to get these types of applications and we need to firm it up.”
Councillor Houston said, however: “We see an increase in domestic violence clearly linked to sales of alcohol and drinking at home. This is entirely within our existing policy. I don’t think anything we have done at this meeting has been contrary to policy. We have expressed a concern at numerous board meetings about the increase in off-sales and it is an irresponsible message to send out if we allow an increase.
“I found the applicant’s explanation about other supermarkets and how they approach that very helpful and it will inform our decisions in future but on this occasion I would vote for partial refusal.”
Councillor Gibson backed his stance but the application was approved by four votes to two.
A similar application for Lidl in Weaver Row - seeking an additional 12.02 square metres between the same dates - was also approved by the same voting margin.