A SHOP specialising in Polish food has been granted a drinks licence, despite neighbour objections.

The police, too, were concerned that giving an off-sales permit to Pokusa in Hawick’s High Street would represent “overprovision” of licensed premises in that area.

But Scottish Borders Licensing Board agreed on Friday to the request from proprietrix Olga Mazurczak who, with husband Szymon, runs a similar retail outlet in Berwick.

She said she intended selling a range of specialist beers, vodkas and liqueurs from Poland, Russia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic to satisfy a demand from people of Easter European origin as well as the general public.

“These are products not generally available in other stores,” she claimed.

There were letters of objection from two neighbours of the shop at 37 High Street, one of whom felt the alcohol licence would exacerbate existing problems.

“It will attract trouble around our doorway which is used as a smoking area and toilet at nights and weekends,” wrote Andrew Rae.

He also claimed the shop was involved in loading and unloading in the early hours of the morning.

Mrs Mazurczak said that, due to a misunderstanding, a delivery had been taken in the middle of the night over Easter, but this was a “one-off”.

For the police, Inspector Tony Hodges conceded the shop was well run and long-established, but asked the board to consider that there were already 34 licensed premises in Hawick’s central area – the second highest in terms of density in the Borders – and four off-sales in High Street alone.

Councillor Bill Herd was supportive of the application.

“Our town centres are dying through lack of footfall and this will bring people, including visitors, onto the High Street.

“The volume of sales will, I’m sure, be miniscule compared to the big supermarkets.” But Hawick councillor David Paterson opposed the bid, siding with the objectors. He failed to receive a seconder and his dissent was noted. Under the terms of the licence, Pokusa will be able to sell alcohol from 10am to 10pm seven days a week.