Inspector backs refusal of petrol station plans

Plans for the petrol station were first rejected last year over noise fears

Plans for a new petrol station have been rejected for a second time after a council described it as being "poorly designed".

The proposal to build the petrol station, car wash and shop on the site of the old Newbridge Service Station, off Tettenhall Road in Wolverhampton, was rejected by the city council last year over fears it would be too noisy for neighbours.

The applicant, Bushbury Ltd, appealed to the government’s planning inspector, which has the power to overrule the council, in a bid to get the decision overturned but was rejected again.

“I find that the proposed development would have a harmful effect on the living conditions of occupiers of neighbouring properties in regard to noise”, the inspector said in a report outlining the latest refusal.

The planning inspector said that noise assessments included had not measured noise levels from a nearby home.

The house, which sits on the border of the proposed petrol station site, would have had to face noise from the petrol station’s jet wash, car wash, tank vents and tyre air pumps according to the inspector.

The plans were criticised by planners at the City of Wolverhampton Council for being "poorly designed" and needing more landscaping.

The authority's planners also said the "utilitarian" forecourt would be to the "detriment of the surrounding area".

The land, next to the Newbridge pub, was used for a petrol station until 2005 when it was demolished and has remained empty since.

A statement included with the application said the new petrol station would have created more than 20 jobs.

"The site lies within a local centre and on a heavily trafficked route", the statement said.

"The proposed commercial and retail roadside use is entirely appropriate within this context."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.