Rutherglen MP Tommy McAvoy to oppose off-license plan for second time

Nov 25 2009 by Douglas Dickie, Rutherglen Reformer

TOMMY McAVOY MP has said he will again oppose an application for a licensed grocers on Rutherglen Main Street.

The Rutherglen and Hamilton West MP had originally said he was undecided about a new application for G101 to open a shop at 70 Main Street, but he has now confirmed he is still against it.

He has also slammed the council for not doing enough to breath new life into Rutherglen Main Street.

Last week the Reformer reported that council chiefs were keen to fill the empty unit, especially as the Haddows on the street is set for closure.

Mr McAvoy was critical of council chief executive, Archie Strang, and said more could be done to breath fresh life into the Main Street.

He said: “I have now considered in depth the resubmitted proposal by G101 and my objection to it still stands.

"I am as concerned as anyone about the Main Street regeneration and perhaps if Mr Strang had accepted my proposal for a task force to be set up to promote the Main Street, it could have lobbied for the £100,000 given to East Kilbride Shopping Centre by the SNP Government.

“Instead nothing happened and East Kilbride got the £100,000.

"We are now being told that granting another off-licence on the Main Street should be the height of our ambitions. Try telling that to East Kilbride.

"This application should not be the subject of the type of comments emanating from the council and a number of people have indicated to me they feel the decision to approve the application has already been taken. No it hasn't.

“The law is quite clear. Board members must make their decision only after hearing the case for and against and cannot be told what to approve or reject."

A spokesperson for South Lanarkshire Council said: “The Licensing Board is a separate legal entity from the council.

”All decisions made by the Licensing Board are made on their own individual merits after hearing an application and all competent objections.

”Anyone can object to an application for a premises licence as long as it lodged timeously with the appropriate Licensing Division.”

They added that the council had applied for cash for Rutherglen and that extensive works had been carried out and was planned in and around the town centre: “A number of bids to the Town Centre Regeneration Fund were made for towns throughout South Lanarkshire.

“Among them was a bid for Rutherglen Town Centre, with the lead being taken by Cairnduff Property and the endorser Clyde Gateway URC, for £420,000.

“This was to improve accessibility within the town centre through improvements to the roof car park through resurfacing, lighting, lifts and toilets.

“It should also be pointed out that we have spent £4.4m over the last few years on the regeneration of Rutherglen Town Centre.

“The Town Hall, sadly neglected for many years, was also restored in a multi-million pound regeneration project.

“We have also recently supported the £2m public realm scheme improving linkages between the railway station and the town centre delivered by Clyde Gateway URC.

“The successful bid for East Kilbride Town Centre was for EK Shopmobility soft play and sustainability, which reduces social isolation and improves access for all.”