A newly refurbished store and garage forecourt in Wiveliscombe has now unofficially opened to the public and plans to be fully up and running from Wednesday next week (July 1), after it was granted a 24 hour alcohol license at Somerset Council’s licensing sub-committee last Friday (June 19).

The council overruled local objections to the application and granted a licence for alcohol to be sold for consumption off the premises, but the new owner has reassured residents there are no plans currently to sell alcohol 24/7, and planned hours are Monday – Saturday from 7am – 9pm, and Sunday from 8am – 8pm.

“In the future we may open to 10pm but that has not been decided yet,” said Gowtham Varatharasa, director of the franchise operator K G Fuel Group Ltd.

“In the future, if we felt the business needed to be open longer we would consider it, but we would talk to the local community to see if they were happy, and if they were not, we would not do it,” he said.

The site itself is owned by Sterling Petroleum Ltd, which took over Jones Garage in West Street, which was family-run for more than 100 years, and they will be applying for planning permission for a larger store on the site of the previous garage workshop area, as well as an above ground tank.

Mr Varatharasa said the petrol forecourt opened unofficially last Wednesday after farmers and local people asked if the company could help with just a few pumps being opened, to meet their day to day needs.

From Wednesday July 1 the forecourt will be officially open, selling normal and super unleaded petrol, and diesel, and the company was working on red diesel being available in July.

Mr Varatharasa said future plans for the forecourt also included a car wash, jet wash, air and vacuum machines, a 24/7 parcel service locker which can be accessed even if the shop is closed, car care items and more.

The refurbished shop, which is also partially open, will be fully stocked from Wednesday, and as well as everyday goods from cigarettes and wine to groceries and ice creams, it will have a coffee machine, and food to go once they get approval from Somerset County Council.

Local Cllr Dave Mansell, Upper Tone Division, Somerset Council, said he was disappointed by the decision to grant a 24 hour alcohol licence last week, which he had opposed.

“Having the shop open in the day and evening is a good thing, but overnight is not a good idea,” he said. “This is a quiet town and people pulling up in cars would cause unnecessary disturbance.”

He said he did not understand why the licensing decision was made, but “we will see what happens next with planning permission.

“It is early days, there is still a lot to do on the site, and hopefully in time it will all be sorted in a sensible way,” he said.