Service station plan rejected over traffic worries

Plans for a service station and lorry park close to the M180 in North Lincolnshire have been refused.

The planning application submitted by Lindum Group Ltd and Brocklesby Estate sparked local opposition, with more than 60 individual comments made on the application, most objecting.

James Rigby, agent on behalf of both applicants, said the site at Barnetby Top was in an "optimal location" and would have “demonstrable and immediate economic benefits”, estimating an £11m boost to the local economy.

However, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, North Lincolnshire Council had several reservations which led to its dismissal, including concerns over highways and drainage.

The planned park had space for 200 vehicles, as well as two drive-through restaurants.

If the proposal had gone ahead, it could have potentially created 75 jobs, with a predicted further 125 jobs in the supply chain.

However, it was unanimously rejected by councillors at a planning committee meeting on Wednesday.

A written submission from Councillor Rob Waltham, supported by Councillor Carl Sherwood, urged refusal on the basis of highways and drainage concerns.

When discussing the council planning committee's site visit, Councillor Carol Ross said “we all saw what the traffic situation’s like,” claiming the proposed in and out system “doesn’t look usable”.

Discussing why the councillors should be in favour of the plans, Mr Rigby said an “extensive volume of supporting studies” had been submitted on why the lorry park facility was needed.

Speaking at the meeting, local resident Andrew Horner said: “My main concerns are road safety and traffic congestion".

He said he had used the Barnetby Top interchange almost since it was built and said the plans were “a traffic disaster waiting to happen”.

Also describing it as “absolute madness”, he believed there would be queues down to the M180 or A180, with “standing traffic on the motorway or dual carriageway” to get off.

Objector Ruth Lloyd said she was late for the meeting because of existing traffic issues.

“I found hardly any examples of lorry parks on the scale of this at all,” she said, and none next to a village of Barnetby’s size.

Another resident voiced concerns that the jobs created may not all go to local residents, and “may not compensate for the loss of other businesses”, suggesting a village café could be impacted.

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