Minister gives go- ahead for £ 7m service station

THE SECRETARY of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has rejected environmentalists’ concerns over a proposal to build a £ 7m service station on open countryside, leading planners to recommend approval of the controversial scheme.

Robert Jenrick MP, inset, said while he had some concerns over petrol giant BP’s ambition to build outlets for itself, McDonalds, Costa Coffee and Marks & Spencer, an HGV overnight parking area and a 128- space car park over almost eight acres of grazing and arable land outside Thirsk, he had concluded the development would not cause substantial harm.

The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England and Friends of the Earth had pressed the Secretary

of State to carry out a detailed environmental impact study, raising concerns over the impact on ground water, trees, the landscape, heritage, town centre trade, noise and loss of green space. In a written statement, Mr Jenrick replied the development at the York Road junction to the A19 was “not likely to have significant effects on the environment” and the impacts could be mitigated.

The decision has been met with dismay by campaigners, ahead of the scheme being considered by Hambleton District Council next week. Planning officers said although the proposal would result in the loss of agricultural land, is on a greenfield site and change landscape character, the scheme should be approved.