Dalwhinnie residents will still be able to refuel at village filling station
Residents in Dalwhinnie will be able to continue to buy their alcohol at the village’s fuel filling station.
The operators of the rural petrol station have been given the go-ahead to keep on serving off-sale booze at the forecourt’s store.
Dalwhinnie Service Station Ltd was granted approval at the latest meeting of the Highland Licensing Board in Inverness on Tuesday for off-sale hours from 11am to 10pm Monday to Sunday.
The application had received backing from both the village’s community council and residents, given that locals would have had to travel to Newtonmore to get their alcohol otherwise.
There were no objections or adverse representations to the bid.
Licensing Standards Officer Ian Cox stated in his report to the board: “A full alcohol premises licence application has been received in respect of Dalwhinnie Service Station.
“These premises have for several years been a petrol station serving a scattered local community, as well as travellers entering and exiting the Highlands via the A9 trunk road...
“The application has been supported by both the local community and community council as a necessity for local grocery provision as well as fuel with alternate facilities some 12 miles away.
“Dalwhinnie, has no other retail outlet supplying groceries.”
The officer said in his report that the premises had been visited and they are suitable for the sale of alcohol.
Councillor Paul Oldham, vice-chairman of the Highland Licensing Board pointed out at Tuesday’s meeting at council headquarters that premises need to prove they are the only source of petrol or groceries for the local community under the licensing rules to gain approval.
Mr Cox told the meeting: “They are the only shop in Dalwhinnie and it is 12 miles to Newtonmore so I think that is well and truly established.”
The application for the off-sales licence was unanimously approved by board members after a discussion lasting less than two minutes.
