The owner of a Lochee shop applying for an alcohol licence says it is a ”great shame” that residents are opposing his plans.
Harris Aslam, the owner of the new shop in the former Bed Shed building, has submitted an application to the council’s licensing board. It will consider the matter when it meets on Thursday.
However, the council has received a petition of hundreds of signatures from locals, all opposed to Mr Aslam’s plans.
Residents fear approval could prove fatal for the local post office, which opened along with another convenience store in 2009.
There is also concern that the granting of the application would lead to too many off-licences in the area.
The petition reads: ”The proposed new off-licence would result in over-provision and would be an inappropriate locality for another off-licence.
”The northernmost stretch of the Lochee High Street is about 100 metres long and already has three premises licensed for off-sales and two licensed for on-sales.
It continues: ”The granting of the proposed off-licence would put at risk the post office which is situated within an existing business that relies heavily on alcohol sales.
”This has the potential to force the post office to close.”
Paul Smith, head of the local traders’ association, had previously voiced his fears.
He said: ”The people of Lochee wanted the post office back on the High Street. There were about 3,000 people who signed the petition for that, and it’s come back in along with a supermarket.
”If this new lot get a supermarket it’s a slap in the face for the people of Lochee who wanted the post office back.”
The board also received an objection from neighbouring Chambers Stores Ltd where the post office is situated.
The store said it was opposed to Mr Aslam’s application, claiming there would be an ”overprovision of licensed premises of a similar nature in the locality were the application to be granted.”
Mr Aslam said he was disappointed by the strong reaction to his application.
”It’s a great shame that local people are opposing the petition for us to obtain the alcohol licence,” he said. ”We want to provide the local community with an independently-owned convenience store and a one-stop-shop which offers a great range of products that includes alcohol.”