A new planned Tesco superstore in Whitburn’s Heartlands development has been granted a provisional alcohol licence after councillors rejected NHS objections.

NHS Lothian provided a written formal objection to a licence for the new superstore arguing that there was over-provision in the area.

However both applicants and councillors commented on the “general and generic” nature of the objection, and its lack of localised detail.

West Lothian does not have an over-provision policy which dictates how many licences should be issued in any given area.

At the same meeting licences were agreed for an Asda filling station/ convenience store in Livingston and convenience stores in Boghall, Bathgate and in neighbouring Blackburn . None were met with objections from the health authority.

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