'Dismay' at store plans (From Cotswold Journal)

'Dismay' at store plans

7:50am Saturday 14th July 2012 in News

BOURTON parish councillors have said they are “most dismayed” at plans to extend a village store’s Sunday opening hours during the Olympics.

The Co-operative in Station Road has submitted plans to Cotswold District Council to extend its opening hours on a Sunday from 10am to 6pm and to also serve alcohol between those times.

At a recent parish council meeting, chairman Bryan Sumner said they were opposing the plans.

He said: “We felt it would be out of line with other outlets in the village and attract other people up there when other outlets cease to trade.”

A spokesman for the Midcounties Co-operative said the firm wanted to extend its opening hours for the four Sundays during the Olympics.

He said: “Some of the biggest events take place on these days, so to meet the expected increase in consumer demand, the Government has introduced temporary changes in the Sunday trading rules.”

If the licence application is approved, the store will be open from 10am to 6pm on Sunday, July 29 and Sunday, August 5, 12 and 19, but will return to the usual opening hours of 11am to 4pm after that.