PLANS to open a new filling station on the site of a former garage in York have been slated by a local councillor.

The Press reported recently that Valli Forecourts wants to build the new filling station and a shop at 172 Fulford Road, which has lain empty and unused since a petrol station was closed down and demolished in 2003.

The plans, submitted to City of York Council, include six petrol pumps under a canopy, a cashpoint, water and air pumps, and a convenience shop.

Fishergate councillor Andy D'Agorne said the proposal was attracting significant levels of objections and he had a number of concerns.

"The hours of operation are excessive, and combined with the retail element, cash machine and parking area, create a significant risk of night time noise and antisocial behaviour which could have a significant impact on amenity of immediately adjoining residential properties," he said.

He raised safety concerns about children making their way to local schools along Fulford Road, who would face traffic crossing the pavement to get in and out of the garage. "The design fails to give priority to pedestrians or create the conditions to slow vehicles turning into the site," he claimed.

He also said the status of the site was now ‘abandoned’ and so a presumption in favour of its previous use was not applicable.

"Identified in the Local Plan as suitable for housing at the time when neighbouring offices were converted to residential use, those residents had reasonable expectation that this would be the future use of the site, and not a significant 24 hour retail and petrol sales outlet," he said.

"While the Local Plan is not adopted , the preferred option report which identifies the site for housing has been subject to consultation and there is a strongly identified need for brownfield sites for housing in the city, with a new council administration committed to reducing the amount of housing to be built on greenfield sites."