Shrewsbury Tesco wants longer opening hours

Shrewsbury's Tesco Extra store could soon be allowed to trade for an additional two hours - until midnight on a Saturday night - if a new licensing bid is approved by council planners.

It has applied to Shropshire Council to increase its opening hours, with permission to sell alcohol.

Tony Fletcher, spokesman for Tesco, today said the bid would give the store more flexibility and allow shift workers and others who wanted to buy alcohol later on weekends to do so.

He said: "We try to listen to customers and reflect their shopping habits and there have been concerns raised that they can't buy alcohol at certain times."

But Mr Fletcher said he wanted to re-assure people that the change would not result in any problems with under-age drinking.

He said: "We sell alcohol responsibly and we have a Think 25 scheme so that if a person looks under 25 they may be asked for ID."

Simon Airey, chairman of Shropshire Business Chamber, said the plans would have detrimental impact for town centre trade.

He said: "This is just a case of the big boys flexing their muscles again. If Tesco is legally allowed to extend their licensing hours there is probably little which can be done to stop it.

"As we have seen before with other applications they have the ability to steamroller most small business," he continued.

"Anywhere extending its licence to sell alcohol outside the town centre will have a negative impact for off-licences and evening trade in the town centre."