Growing concerns over Asda petrol station

OPPOSITION is growing against plans to build a petrol station at Asda in Melksham, as the town council has objected to the application and campaigners have again spoken out against the development.

Melksham Town Council formally objected to the plans last month after agreeing it would increase  existing traffic problems near the supermarket. Other opponents have also written to Wiltshire Council with concerns and argued that the town already has enough petrol stations.

The statement from Melksham Town Council reads, “Considerable delays often occur along the A350, particularly at the traffic lights at the Asda junction and it was felt additional traffic to the proposed new petrol station would exacerbate this problem.

“It was suggested that a significant reworking of the junction off the A350 was required to improve traffic flow and ensure safe access and egress from the site to the A350.”

Residents and local businesses have also raised concerns about traffic and the plan to shrink the Asda car park, and questioned whether Melksham needs another petrol station.

Campaigners argue that Melksham has a lot of petrol stations considering the size of the town.

The town has six petrol stations already and approximately 14,000 residents.

In comparison, figures shown to Melksham Independent News show that Trowbridge, with a population of around 40,000, has just three petrol stations while Bath, a city of over 90,000 people, has just five. If the Asda plan is given the go ahead, Melksham would have the same number of petrol stations as Chippenham which has a population double that of Melksham.

One Melksham resident wrote to Wiltshire Council and said, “I think this application should be refused. The Asda store causes traffic problems on the A350 and Farmers roundabout already. A petrol station will attract additional traffic. The removal of supermarket parking spaces to accommodate the petrol station and the re-routing of incoming Asda traffic will cause further problems.

“There is already a petrol station a very short distance north of Asda on the A350, and a petrol station at Sainsbury’s in Melksham is close by.”

Nearby businesses have also raised issues with the car park overflowing and traffic obstructing their own access.

An objection from Falcon Interiors said, “On many occasions customers of Asda currently park in private areas when the store is busy, which is quite often. Asda are fully aware of the car parking issues and unless they can replace the spaces the application should be refused.”

To view the plans or have your own say for or against the plans, enter planning reference 16/03811/FUL at www.wiltshire.gov.uk