Disgust over hearing delay

BIG companies called to give evidence to council hearings shouldn't be allowed to delay on the basis that one person can't attend, a senior councillor has said.

Conservative leader in Edinburgh, Cllr Jeremy Balfour, voiced his disgust after the McColl newsagent chain requested continuation of a case.

In a letter it stated one of its officials had a prior engagement in Northampton and wasn't able to come to a council licensing meeting earlier this week to defend the group.

And after this was accepted by the board, Cllr Balfour said: "I find it hard to believe there is only one person working for this who can appear. This kind of excuse cannot be used as a defence every time."