Alarm over industrial units and petrol station plan near common

COUNCILLORS ARE urging people to make their feelings known over plans for a fast food, petrol station and industrial development on the edge of one of Beverley’s ancient commons.

Plans have been submitted for a drive- through coffee shop and restaurant, convenience store, six units for industrial and warehousing uses and 171 car parking spaces on the field next to East Riding community hospital, on

Swinemoor Lane, in Beverley. It is the fourth application for a petrol station in the vicinity of the town in recent times, with the three others gaining approval.

Lib Dem ward and town councillors say it is one of the most significant development since the cattle market became a Tesco in 2002.

More than 400 letters have gone out to residents inviting their views.

East Riding and town councillor Linda Johnson, who lives in nearby Molescroft, said. “This is a very significant and unwelcome development on the edge of Swinemoor Pasture, a unique, ancient wetland biosphere. Two fast food and drink units, plus a petrol station, and six industrial units in a residential area will change the character of this part of Beverley beyond recognition.

“It is completely inappropriate to build the type of development you would usually find on a motorway or major road in a historic town with residential housing and a hospital within a few yards.”

The proposals come from Blackburn- based EG Group, founded in 2001 by brothers

Mohsin and Zuber Issa, which now has 341 petrol stations in the UK and is the largest franchisee for Subway in Europe.

The developers claim the development on a large field next to Swinemoor Common will create “significant economic benefits” and up to 160 jobs. Chairman of Beverley Civic Society Dick Lidwell said they were concerned about the proliferation of petrol stations around Beverley.

BP Oil won an appeal last year against East Riding Council’s refusal of planning permission for a station on the Killingwoldgraves roundabout, near Bishop Burton.

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

A third station which will be operated by Shell is currently under construction next to the new Lidl on the southern relief road.

Mr Lidwell said: “We are concerned about the increasing degradation of views on the approach roadtoourhistoricmarkettown.”

Swinemoor Common is one of the three ancient commons of Beverley, dating back more than 700 years, and is an area of seasonally flooded, species rich, semi- improved grassland.

According to documents online, Natural England is not objecting.

An unwelcome development on the edge of an ancient wetland. Linda Johnson, East Riding and town councillor.