A Girdle Toll convenience store was given its alcohol licence back, despite concerns about some noisy behaviour in the area.
Muhammed Annees made the application to North Ayrshire Licensing Board for Costcutter, in Ladyha Court, 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 and 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 was currently open from 7am to 6pm but would change to 7am to 10pm if given a licence. Two new full-time and two new part-time staff would be engaged if it was granted.
The legal representative maintained that the BP garage was recently granted a licence and it was unfair Mr Annees 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 was not aware of any problems but that there was CCTV around the shop which was regularly monitored. If there were any problems they would phone the police, he told Councillor Donald L Reid, who supported the application.
The shop owners said people from across the community were behind the application.
A proposal from councillor Donald L Reid to grant the licence seconded by Councillor Jean McClung was granted. Councillor Larsen's motion. supported by Councillor John Bell, to not grant the application, fell.
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