Councillors have signed off on permission for Kenilworth's new B&M store to sell alcohol, ahead of its opening next month.

Work is already underway converting the Station Road store from a Wilko, with the new shop due to welcome shoppers for the first time on Thursday 7 March.

And now the discount retailer has been handed a boost by Warwick District Council, with a premises licence granted on Wednesday (February 14).

Councillors have given permission for B&M to sell alcohol from 7am to 11pm Monday to Sunday at the Station Road shop.

Just two objections were made to the application, both concerned with public nuisance, and both from members of the public.

"B&M appears to specialise in selling cheap alcohol," wrote Dr Liz Fawcett.

"I believe this is likely to lead to an increase in underage drinking, antisocial behaviour connected to alcohol consumption, and illegal drinking in nearby public places.

"The area is residential as well as commercial, and considerable nuisance could be caused to those living nearby.

"It was also recently pedestrianised with a view to enhancing this section of Station Road as a pleasant public space. If this licence was granted, it would have a detrimental impact on the ambience of the pedestrianised area."

Meanwhile Steve Horner said: "I object on noise at night with people gathering outside where people live.

"How a licence would be agreed where people live, I can't believe [it] would be agreed anyway?"

B&M is coming to Kenilworth! (image by James Smith)

But B&M hit back at the comments, and pointed out "no representations have been received from the 'independent experts', namely the statutory authorities".

"Whilst the applicant is known for its cheap prices per se, this is not the case where alcohol is concerned," a supporting statement from Keystone Law said.

"The prices are comparable to that of the mainstream supermarkets and, crucially, there is no refrigerated alcohol available.

"Therefore, the applicant's products are not attractive to those wishing to drink beer or cider immediately on the street.

"Also, alcoholic drinks are an ancillary product which is not promoted - as is the case in supermarkets."

The Station Road unit was one of 51 former Wilko sites purchased by B&M last year.

The lease for the Station Road shop was agreed in December, surveyors Brackenridge Hanson Tate confirmed.

Already with over 660 stores nationwide, B&M has recently started reopening former Wilko sites under its branding.

See the council reports here.

Kenilworth Nub News has approached B&M for comment.