Forecourt shop to go-ahead

A supermarket chain will open a new store 24 hours a day at a petrol station in Hednesford, to the dismay of some residents.

The Somerfield forecourt store at the former Texaco petrol station, in Uxbridge Street, is currently being built and will continue the opening hours of the previous smaller shop.

But neighbours believe there will be much more disruption because it is bigger and will attract more customers.

They are also angry about plans to deliver food between 5am and 7am, claiming they deserved to remain undisturbed from the reversing beeps of lorries until 7am in the morning.

The shop is being rebuilt after planning permission was granted for the work last July by Cannock Chase District Council.

But yesterday the planning committee wanted to approve the hours that fuel and food would be delivered and the opening hours of the shop before it began trading.

The new development will include the shop, fuel pumps, jet wash, storage compound and parking.

The conditions were discussed at a committee meeting this week, which heard from residents and Somerfield representatives.

Uxbridge Street resident Graham Brindley, speaking on behalf of eight nearby residents, said there would be more disturbance from the opening hours as it was now a supermarket store. He told the meeting: "It was open 24 hours a day to sell fuel and that was the end of it, as the doors were locked up at 11pm and customers paid through a hatch."

"The disturbance in the morning has been intolerable for the 10 years we have been there, the lighting is totally over the top and the tannoy system has been used throughout the 24 hours sometimes."

Wendy Williams, Somerfield spokesman, agreed to change delivery hours for food to between 7am and 9pm, but fuel deliveries will continue being between 7am and 8am, seven days a week.

She said: "Somerfield don't currently operate the site but are redeveloping it and the previous operator opened for 24 hours and had done so for a number of years.

"They are a responsible, national forecourt operator, who are sensitive to residents' concerns and endeavour to keep noise to a minimum."

The majority of councillors agreed to support the new delivery times of between 7am and 9pm. But Councillor Doris Grice said: "If anybody has driven up there in the morning, it is absolute chaos and I think to pass this at all is absolute folly.

"You cannot get out once you get in and I think it really warrants checking out."

A report by planning officers said environmental health officers felt the proposals should not be unduly disturbing. The committee granted permission subject to conditions.