The City of Wolverhampton Council’s licensing committee has granted an alcohol licence to the new Morrisons Daily petrol station at Linthouse Lane Service Station in Wednesfield, despite objections from local residents and initial concerns from authorities.
At a meeting held on April 2, the committee approved the application submitted in February for the Morrisons Daily store, which will operate alongside the petrol station. Earlier in the process, West Midlands Police, council environmental health, and public health officers raised concerns, particularly about extended operating hours and potential anti-social behaviour. However, all objections were withdrawn after mediations resulted in additional licensing conditions.
West Midlands Police raised issues regarding the early sale of alcohol but agreed to adjust the permitted hours, moving the start time from 6am to 7am, with sales allowed until 11pm. Chris Mitchener, representing the garage owners via Licensing Solutions, clarified that alcohol sales were a minor part of the shop’s overall offering and stressed that the site is not intended to function as an off-licence.
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Residents had voiced worries that the new outlet would become a hotspot for drunkenness, littering, and crime. Concerns were also raised about increased traffic congestion at the already busy Linthouse Lane and insufficient parking, which could lead to on-street parking issues, blocked driveways, noise, and disruption for neighbors.
While the committee acknowledged these concerns, they stated that regulation of parking was beyond their scope and dismissed the anticipated rise in anti-social behaviour as “generalisations” without concrete evidence. Officials expressed confidence that the petrol station management would promptly address any incidents to maintain their licence.
Separately, the council recently approved a planning application to refurbish the former Linthouse Service Station site, including demolishing the existing canopy roof, installing new underground petrol tanks, constructing a store extension, and adding modern facilities such as an electric vehicle charging point and a new cash machine.
The petrol station had been closed since 2011 and was previously used for vehicle sales, servicing, and retail. The upcoming Morrisons Daily outlet aims to revitalize the location while serving the local community.