Compton petrol station in bid to extend opening hours
A petrol station’s plan to extend its opening hours has been met with a storm of protests from residents living nearby on one of Wolverhampton’s busiest roads.
Compton Service Station, on Bridgnorth Road, has applied to the city council’s planning chiefs for permission to start operating at 6am, as opposed to the current 7am opening time.
Neighbours say any extension to the station’s business hours will result in ‘unwanted noise pollution’.
So far, the council has received ten complaints from people worried about the impact longer hours could have on the surrounding environment.
However, following a recent ‘noise assessment’ check carried out by environmental and highways bosses, a spokesman for the council said there was “no significant impact” to surrounding properties, as the general noise climate of the area was dominated mainly by traffic from Bridgnorth Road.
He added: “The assessment concluded that the first hour of opening did not produce a significant noise impact from voices or car radios and there was no evidence to suggest this would be the case.
“The survey results were taken from the nearest dwelling and showed that the prevailing noise was down to traffic between 6am and 7am.”
Initial planning permission for the site – which consists of four petrol pumps, a shop and car wash – was first granted in February 1993 with opening hours restricted to 7am-11pm.
“The revised hours do not apply to either the car wash operating or any deliveries being made to the premises,” said the council’s spokesman.
“Granting temporary planning consent for a 12-month period will allow us to monitor any effects the extended opening period may have on the living conditions of neighbouring occupants.”
The council’s planning committee is due to approve the application, subject to restrictions, at a meeting next week
By Joe Sweeney
Local Democracy Reporter
