Government backs service station plans after series of hold-ups

EXPANSION plans at Leeming Bar services can go ahead after the Government gave its verdict on a series of multi-million pound motorway services earmarked for the A1 upgrade.

The proposals have been much delayed and subject to planning inquiries but the Secretary of State has now delivered his verdict.

After studying the proposals, the Communities and Local Government Minister, Eric Pickles, has granted outline permission to expand Leeming Bar services on the A1 near Northallerton and also has agreed that land can be developed to create Coneygarth truck stop.

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Earlier this year, the Leeming Bar upgrade was again considered at a public inquiry alongside three competing applications to build new motorway service areas (MSAs) near Ripon and Boroughbridge.

The inquiry into the three proposed locations – two at the A1/A61 Baldersby junction near Melmerby by Refined Estates Ltd and Jaytee (Rainton) LLP, and a third at Kirby Hill by Heather Ive Associates – originally opened in November 2010 and closed in February last year. The Secretary of State decided to re-open the inquiry in order to obtain further information on certain aspects of the proposals.

Coun Carl Les, the deputy leader of North Yorkshire County Council, whose family has run Leeming Bar Services at the junction of the A1 and A684 for 50 years, has been attempting to upgrade the site to motorway standard for more than two decades.

Yesterday, he said: “We are very pleased and very relieved.”

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Mr Pickles has backed the Leeming plans as he finds the proposal would not encroach into the countryside.

Heather Ives Associates have submitted a number of appeals in respect to their plans to build a motorway service area at Kirby Hill.

A protest group called Kirby Hill RAMS (Residents Against Motorway Services) and residents of Melmerby – the closest village to the Baldersby sites – have voiced opposition to the site claiming it would lead to noise, pollution, increased crime and the despoiling of the countryside.

When all of the motorway service area applications were first submitted, the Department for Transport had planned to continue the upgrade of the A1 dual carriageway between Dishforth and Barton, near Scotch Corner.

But in November 2010, as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review, the coalition Government announced it was axing the upgrade north of Leeming – due to start in 2014.

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