Lancaster Asda Express petrol station's 24-hour booze bid gets green light

Euro Garages has been given permission to sell alcohol and hot drinks through the night to 6am at the Asda Express Ryelands petrol station on Owen Road. Previous conditions only allowed sales through earlier day and evening hours.

But Lancaster city councillors have set conditions including that customers must use a night hatch for service after 10pm rather than enter the shop. And only hot drinks – not hot takeaway food – can be sold after 10pm.

The petrol station shop application had raised concerns about anti-social behaviour, night time traffic, drug dealing, more fast food and less choice of groceries for shoppers in the area, and the impact of later hours on a smaller independent shop nearby.

Euro Garages now has permission for late-night refreshment and alcohol sales 24 hours a day, both for seven days a week. Asda was also named in the licence application.

Euro Garages says staff training, the display of alcohol behind the shop counter, a CCTV system and the Challenge 25 proof-of-age scheme will help to promote licensing objectives, prevent crime and disorder, and protect children from harm.

Before the meeting, various objections had been raised by residents as well as by the proprietor of the nearby Premier Convenience Express.

In an email, the shop owner had said: ” I have major concerns about the Asda Express application. I feel the area is adequately served by ourselves, during the sociable hours of 10am to 9pm.

“As an independent [business], trading has been difficult in recent years and any loss of trade to increased competition will only add to the challenges. Having served the area for over 30 years, I feel we are an integral part of the community. It would be a major loss if we had to call it a day.”

Some residents had objected too. Their worries included fears that the range of groceries sold at the petrol station shop would be reduced, with more fast food to take away. Other worries included late night customer noise and litter.