URGENT talks are being carried out to see is an appeal can be lodged against a decision to allow a Porthmadog garage to sell alcohol.

Gwynedd Council’s Central Licensing Sub-Committee has approved an application for a premises licence for Motor Fuel Ltd to sell alcohol at the Porthmadog Filling Station on the High Street.

The application was met with concerns from local councillor Jason Humphreys and Porthmadog Town Council members. Cllr Humphreys and Porthmadog Town Council chair Cllr Selwyn Griffiths were both at the committee hearing to object to the application on 9 February.

Cllr Humphreys said he is deeply concerned about the number of premises in the town being granted the right to sell alcohol, but describes this most recent approval as the “most worrying” of them all.

He said: “Consumption of alcohol at Llyn Bach and the harbour is prohibited and there have been complaints in the past.

“The garage is bang between and there have also been problems with traffic.

“This is not only the fifth successful premises licence application on and around the High Street in little over three years, but it’s also the most worrying.

“I’m having urgent talks with relevant parties about the prospects and practicalities of appealing the decision.”

Cllr Griffiths added: “I am very disappointed that this application has been approved and question whether there really is a need for more provision for the sale of alcohol in the town.”

A Gwynedd Council spokesman said: “The licence was granted following a consideration of the application on its merits.

“The sub-committee was satisfied on the evidence before it that the premises will not in future be used primarily as a garage, therefore would not fall foul of the ban on the sale of alcohol at garages under section 176 of the Licensing Act 2003.

See the full story in this week’s Arfon/Dwyfor edition.