Lidl given permission to sell alcohol at new store
Whittam CoxA new Lidl supermarket in Wolverhampton has been given permission to sell alcohol after public health officials withdrew concerns over the sale of super-strength drinks.
The supermarket chain is opening a new store on the site of the former Gills sausage factory and abattoir in Parkfield Road.
City public health officials had said they did not want cans of super-strength alcohol sold individually, given Wolverhampton had one of the highest alcohol-specific mortality rates in the country.
They with later withdrew their objection after taking legal advice and the council gave permission to sell alcohol between 07:00 and 23:00 GMT.
Lidl had agreed the conditions of the licence, which included CCTV and staff training over the sale of alcohol to children, with West Midlands Police and the council's licensing officers after concerns were raised.
Last July, the council reported that mortality and hospital admission rates in the city for alcohol-specific conditions were both significantly above the national average.
Permission was granted for the new store and 17 new one-to-four-bed homes on the site of the former abattoir in October.
Plans to demolish the factory on the edge of Birmingham New Road and Parkfield Road were approved last month.
The demolition will make way for the supermarket and a 110-space car park.
The new supermarket would also bring 40 new jobs, Lidl has said.
This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.
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