Motorway services approved despite wildlife fears

Plans for two new motorway service stations to be built fewer than seven miles (11km) apart on the A1(M) have been approved, despite fears over the impact one scheme would have on wildlife.

Members of North Yorkshire Council's planning committee said they had reservations about Roadchef's plans for a site off junction 52 at Catterick at a meeting on Tuesday.

Campaigners against the development said it would destroy a nature conservation site used by migratory birds on the red list of threatened species, such as curlews and lapwings.

Earlier, members had also voted in favour of Moto's plans to redevelop its Barton truck stop site at junction 56.

Roadchef's plans include shops, a hotel, petrol station and drive-thru restaurants.

Liz Dinsmore, from the Campaign to Save Catterick Wildfowl Habitat, said there was no evidence of a need for the new services.

She told the meeting: "As road users we will have services at Kirby Hill, Leeming Bar, Coneygarth, Scotch Corner and Barton.

"Why are councillors even considering it when Richmondshire District Council's core plan and the UK Government mandates you to protect the countryside's wildlife diversity, its corridors and habitats and to end further decline?"

Mark Fox, chief executive of Roadchef, said National Highways had identified a "critical" need for services at both Catterick and Barton.

"The 53 new HGV spaces at this development are particularly important for the safety and welfare of hauliers and to help reduce the use of lay-bys and local roads for HGV parking," he said.

The meeting heard the Catterick plan was provisionally approved by Richmondshire District Council in 2022 before it was brought back to North Yorkshire Council.

Mr Fox told councillors the need for the Catterick services was established by Richmondshire councillors before the authority was dissolved.

However, campaigners and several councillors voiced concerns about proposed mitigation measures, including a new habitat for wildlife on land around ten miles away.

Councillor Neil Swannick said he felt "uncomfortable" voting for a scheme that removed a site used by migratory birds, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"If we are going to go forward with two sites within six miles (9.6km) then where does that stop?

"Potentially we're going to have motorway service areas every six miles on every motorway and clearly that would be a little bit crazy."

Councillor Andrew Lee said the application would create jobs and boost the local economy.

He said: "I'm struggling to see why we should be turning it down, having had it previously approved and with further environment safeguards put forward."

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