Helensburgh Waitrose alcohol bid approved – despite concerns

Waitrose was given the go-ahead by the Argyll and Bute licensing board to add 3.7 square metres to the area of its premises.

That number was revised from 10 square metres after solicitor Archie MacIver advised the supermarket chain had used the wrong formula to calculate the space.

Councillor David Kinniburgh, who chairs the board, said that he had not seen staff supervising the alcohol section or the self-serve checkouts on recent visits to the store.

But he was reassured by solicitor Mr MacIver – even though the store has had a further £600 of goods, including booze, stolen since the initial hearing by the licensing board in September.

READ MORE: Police reveal more thefts from Waitrose in Helensburgh as supermarket awaits licensing chiefs' verdict

Mr MacIver was joined by store manager Kevin Sharkey to represent Waitrose at the hearing at Argyll and Bute Council’s headquarters in Lochgilphead.

Commander John Paterson, of Police Scotland, said he had visited the store four times and seen that the alcohol section was supervised on each occasion.

Plans are also in place to install a second security camera, monitoring the entire car park area, within the next fortnight.

But Councillor Kinniburgh said: “Since the last board meeting [on Tuesday, September 3] I have been in twice, and made a point of going to the alcohol section.

“I have not been able to identify a member of staff there. The first occasion I went was the week after the board meeting when it was front page news in the Helensburgh Advertiser.

READ MORE: Police slam Waitrose as booze worth thousands is stolen from Helensburgh store

“It was in the evening between 6pm and 7pm and certainly there was nobody present, and that did concern me.

“What you are telling me is not tying up with what I am seeing.”

When Mr Sharkey confirmed that the self-service checkouts were also manned at all times, Councillor Kinniburgh added: “I’m sorry to keep referring to when I have been in, but if it happens to me it can happen to anybody.

“I only went to pick up a couple of things and accidentally ran the same thing through twice. I eventually had to press the call assistance button to get somebody to come over.

“On the other occasion there were two couples who had the same problem – there was no-one there.”

READ MORE: Man charged with £1,000 theft from Waitrose in Helensburgh

Mr Sharkey said: “There will be times when somebody has bought a bottle of alcohol, it is a dummy bottle and they have to go to get the proper one.

“There are also times when customers say that a price is incorrect and an item should be on special offer. There will be times when staff are doing customer service-related tasks.”

An updated letter from Police Scotland had detailed two incidents, taking place on Tuesday, September 17 and Monday, September 23, which had seen £600 of goods including alcohol taken.

Officers confirmed at the meeting that somebody had now been arrested and detained for court in relation to the second of those incidents.

READ MORE: Pressure's on – for some – as Rotary holds blood pressure checks at Helensburgh's Waitrose store

Mr MacIver said: “It would be the easiest thing in the world, between the last meeting and this one, to keep our heads down.“We have reported things as previously – we are not trying to shirk from anything, and significantly, are taking steps that seem to work.

“I would be honest and ask anybody to point out any large supermarket where there are no thefts. If we are looking for a store with no shoplifters, I don’t think it exists.

“Lessons have been learned after a fairly bad period, and measures have been put in place resulting in a reduction in incidents.”

Councillor Kinniburgh said that Mr MacIver had convinced him; his motion to approve, seconded by Helensburgh councillor Lorna Douglas, was backed without a vote.

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