Residents claim 'no need' to site petrol station on road into Beverley

Councillors are due to determine a planning application on Thursday by Lidl Great Britain Ltd and Cookridge Estates LLP to build a petrol station and a retail kiosk off the Minster Way bypass near Figham roundabout in Woodmansey.

The application is recommended for approval, but has run into objections from Beverley Town Council and Woodmansey Parish Council as well as nearby residents, who say there are already three petrol stations within a mile of each other.

One neighbour said there had already been too much development on the northern side of Minster Way, including new houses and a Lidl supermarket, adding: “We feel that the lovely town of Beverley is on the brink of losing what makes it special...the southern approach is close to ruination.”

Another said driving into Beverley used to be a pleasure, with views of green fields and the Minster "now all obscured" by bland shed-like Lidl and neon signs.

The objector added: "Beverley is looking more like Kingswood."

The parish council believe access “straight off the roundabout” would cause problems with cars backing up, while the town council felt a fuel station was “inappropriate” at a time when people were supposed to be looking to more environmentally sustainable sources of energy.

Beverley Civic Society were unhappy with the design on “an important entry to the town”, commenting that the “design of the accompanying shed-like store with associated lighting and advertisements has set the tone”.

The petrol station, car wash and jet wash will have its own exit and entry off a new access road.

However a planning report says the council’s environmental health officers have raised no objections and the plans have been amended “to improve the design from wider views”.

It adds: “The application also raises issues regarding drainage and highway safety, which also been addressed during the process.”

It also says there is "no policy requirement" to consider the location in terms of need

Officers are recommending the plans for approval, saying it is line with national and local planning policy.