Praise as expansion of petrol station is scaled down

A NATIONAL fuel retailer has been praised after backing down from plans for a large-scale extension to its retail operation in a Georgian conservation area following concerns of it impacting on residents.

Richmondshire District Council’s planning committee heard Harvest Energy’s scaled back proposal for its Richmond filling station had resolved several potential environmental issues, paving the way to reopen the town’s major petrol station following a devastating fire there last August.

Some residents had feared as the only major filling station in Richmond and with an absence of obvious alternative sites, Harvest Energy would be able to exert pressure on the council to retain many elements of its initial application to rebuild the Victoria Road business. The State Oil firm, one of Europe’s largest independent suppliers of motor fuels, had proposed launching a 24hour shop at the site, creating the equivalent of five full-time jobs. It had also said its petrol station should be larger and incorporate parking spaces for the shop.

Alongside concerns about late-night noise and antisocial behaviour in the area, the plans attracted objections from Richmond Town Council and businesses over its scale, with claims it would dominate the surrounding conservation area, which features many listed properties.

The planning meeting heard Harvest Energy had cut its planned opening hours to between 6am and midnight, with a potential later start on Sundays.

Richmond and District the Civic Society and other groups and individuals said the amended scheme had addressed many of their concerns.