Bosses at new Preston Tesco Extra want longer opening hours and 24 hour petrol station - this is why

Bosses at the supermarket giant have applied to Preston City Council to alter the opening times of their shop in Blackpool Road.

Click here to see pictures from when the store opened last month

What are the current opening hours?

The conditions currently restrict opening hours of the store to between the hours of 7am and 10pm Monday to Saturday and between 10am and 6pm on Sundays.

The fuel station is allowed to open between the hours of 6am and 11pm on any day.

What do they want to change it to?

Tesco want to extend opening hours so that the store is open between the hours of 6am and 11pm Monday to Saturday, with the fuel station allowed to open 24 hours each day, with 'pay at pump' facilities only between 11pm and 6am.

This will give an extra two hours or shopping time in the store each day, Monday to Saturday.

Why make the changes?

In a planning statement, Tesco say the proposals "are intended to enhance accessibility to retail provision at the store, as well as allowing Tesco to operate the store more efficiently over a longer period each day (i.e. reducing pressure at peak times).

"Early morning and later evening retail shopping has become increasingly common practice over recent years, and is important for local residents who cannot access the store during the currently permitted opening hours."