A corner shop has been given the go ahead to serve hot breakfasts from 5.30am as it battles to recover from the effects of Covid.
Despite having to cut their current opening hours after staffing issues which they put down to the pandemic, the owners of Rosehall Stores, in Haddington, East Lothian, applied to be allowed to serve hot food for 12 hours a day.
And they said that while they did not anticipate using the extended hours in the coming months they wanted to have the 'flexibility' to use them next year if they were able to get back to normal.
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Four objections to the extended hours were lodged with claim the hours would turn the general store into a hot food takeaway and increase litter and vermin in the area.
There were also concerns about increased traffic and parking at the shop which is next to Knox Academy, in the town.
East Lothian planners approved the application to change the hours it serves hot food from between 6.30am to 2.30pm during the week and 7am to 12pm at weekends to 5.30am to 5.30pm seven days a week.
A report from planners said that applicant Alec Greig said that when they took over the store 25 years ago it was open from 6am to 7pm and while the general store operated those hours in the summer they were reduced during winter months.
The report said: "Currently because of the impacts of the Covid 19 pandemic, they are finding it very difficult to find staff to allow then to open for those hours.
"Until recently the shop has been operating at the weekend until 4pm, but again due to staffing shortages it is likely to be closing at 2pm.
"They are seeking permission for the increase in hours for the sale of hot foods so that if they ever get back to normal trading conditions and they can find staff, they will have the flexibility to serve hot food for the proposed hours.
"The applicant has also stated that there is no immediate intention to begin opening at 5.30am given the approaching winter months but they would like the flexibility to perhaps do so next summer."
Planners approved the change to hours for hot food with the condition that it is restricted to that "prepared by the use of two electric rings, an electric frying pan, an oven, a microwave and an urn only".
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