Only one in 20 petrol stations have Dangerous Substance licences

ONLY five out of the county’s 100 petrol stations have required Dangerous Substances licences.

Chief Fire Officer Paul L’Estrange said the fire service is proactively looking to address this situation and to work with petrol station owners to ensure that the compliance level improves.

Mr L’Estrange said: ‘Out of around 100 petrol stations, only five have a licence. The onus isn’t on the regulatory authority, it’s on the owner occupier (to get their licence).’

He said there are a number of issues with the current Dangerous Substances legislation.

‘ The local authority is not the enforcing authority, it is the Department of Justice. Obviously the building needs to comply with fire safety and petrol vapour emissions. I am not saying that Wexford is much different to any other county because the level of complaince isn’t what it should be. There is no requirement for the local authority to manage this, but we will be proactive. We will be getting them to go get their licence. Every petrol station is getting a letter and they will be notified and advised of their requirements and we will work with the petrol stations.’

Cllr Willie Fitzharris said he was amazed to hear that only one twentieth of fire stations have these licences, having worked with the sector over the past 30 years. ‘Is it just paperwork? I am aware that many petrol stations were closed down because they didn’t meet regulations, which are set at a very high standard. I suspect this exercise won’t necessitate a lot of improvements.’

Mr L’Estrange said cognizance will be taken of existing petrol stations who won’t be expected to have the same standards as new stations opening in the county. 50 per cent of stations have been contacted by post to date and 11 per cent of these have submitted applications for licences.