Planning inspector backs BP over petrol station

THE SAGA over a new petrol station near Beverley has taken a new twist after BP Oil won an appeal against a council’s refusal of planning permission.

Last November, East Riding councillors rejected the oil giant’s plans for the station and retail store on a greenfield site at the K ill ingw old graves roundabout, near Bishop Burton, calling it a blight on the countryside.

BP Oil’s plan includes an M& S Simply Food, as well as a Wild Bean Cafe serving self- service coffee.

Concerns were raised over the impact on village shops at Bishop Burton, Cherry Burton and Walkington, with Bishop Burton parish councillors concerned it would have a particular impact on the village shop’s lunchtime trade from students at Bishop Burton College.

But planning inspector Matthew Birkinshaw has ruled that the development would not obstruct “any key views to, or from the town”.

And he did not believe the development, 1.1 miles from Bishop Burton, would “fundamentally undermine” the local shop.

He said reference had been made to a similar scheme in Crondall, Hampshire, where the village shop closed less than a year after an M& S Simply Food outlet opened nearby. He said: “There is nothing to suggest that the circumstances are similar to the situation before me.”

It comes after councillors approved plans in July for Lovel Capital Projects to develop the former factory site on nearby Killingwold graves Lane for a petrol station, convenience store and business units.

In his report Mr Birkinshaw said only outline planning permission had been granted and no operator had yet been confirmed.

He concluded: “As a result the recently approved scheme does not justify dismissing the appeal proposals.”

Neither BP Oil or Lovel Capital Projects wanted to comment.