Asda submit planning application for petrol station

ASDA has applied for planning permission to build a petrol station at its Melksham store and the news continues to divide opinions amongst people in the town.

The supermarket chain  has submitted a planning application to build a four pump petrol station with  ‘pay at the pump’ self-service payment at all eight of the filling stations. There will be no need for a kiosk to be built but the store will lose 28 car park spaces to make way for the petrol station.

Many people are concerned about the increased volume of traffic that the petrol station will bring to what is already a busy part of the town, particularly as with a self service payment system, new jobs created will be negligible.

Darren Larvin commented on the application, “I believe the loss of 28 car parking spaces in the current Asda car park, additional increased customers as a result of the PFS (petrol filling station)  and a poor exit route will result in serious traffic issues for adjoining businesses, Asda customers and general traffic on the A350.

“During normal business hours a large quantity of HGVs drive across what would be the exit from the PFS over to other businesses on the estate and this would undoubtedly cause jams and delays. Has consideration been given as to how Asda customers who first visit the PFS would then access Asda retail?

“In practice I could see drivers trying to cut across the access given to oncoming vehicles rather than return to the A350 to turn around and re-enter Asda.

“Asda already has car parking issues and this project would greatly exacerbate them so for that reason the application should be refused.”

However, others look forward to the convenience of shopping and filling up in one place. Local resident Paul Bateman said, “Asda petrol station – that’s the best news we have had in Melksham for a long time; it definitely needs another petrol station. It would mean that you can go and get your shopping, come out, go to the petrol station filling up and go home. I call that a real result. I only hope it comes to fruition.”

You can view the planning application by visiting www.wiltshire.gov.uk and using application 16/03811/FUL