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Apr 2021

Last Updated: 14/04/2021

Transport

A1 service station decision 'flies in the face of localism', say campaigners

by Calvin Robinson

| 14 Apr, 2021

Gareth Owens, chair of Kirby Hill Residents Against Motorway Services, says the decision to allow the A1(M) services near Boroughbridge has 'undone all the hard work by residents who have opposed the proposal over the years'.

Kirby Hill Residents Against Motorway Services protesting against the proposals by Applegreen, which was later approved by a government planning inspector in April.

Campaigners in Kirby Hill have said a government decision to approve a motorway service station on the A1 “flies in the face of localism”.

Gareth Owens, chair of Kirby Hill Residents Against Motorway Services, said the approval by planning inspector David Rose reversed 25 years worth of rejection by central government.

The proposal was submitted by Dublin-based company Applegreen and went to its latest public inquiry in February, which lasted for two weeks.

Mr Rose gave approval to the plan yesterday, which will see the service station built on the A1 northbound between junctions 48 and 49.

Villagers battle weary as fourth inquiry into A1 service station starts

‘There is a need’ for A1 service station near Kirby Hill, inquiry told

In a saga that has spanned a quarter of a century, the application has been before multiple council planning committees, faced four public inquiries and been turned down twice by the Secretary of State and the High Court.

Now, the plan has been given the go ahead after Mr Rose decided the benefits of the proposal outweighed the harm.

Mr Owens described the decision as “disappointing” and added it had undone all the hard work by residents who have opposed the proposal over the years.

He said:

“We are disappointed as a community.

“It flies in the face of localism that a man from central government can turn up and change the decision.

“The community has gone through a lot of effort to demonstrate that it is not an appropriate site for a motorway service station.”

In a decision notice yesterday, Mr Rose said after considering the evidence that the benefits of a service station would outweigh the harm.

He said:

“In summary, considerable weight attaches to the less than substantial harm relative to the identified designated heritage assets.

“Loss of best and most versatile agricultural land is also a further negative factor of moderate weight.

“However, individually, and cumulatively, the wider public benefit in meeting the demonstrable need for a motorway service area, for the safety and welfare of motorists, would outweigh that harm.”

The Kirby Hill RAMS group held a meeting last night to decide its response to the inspector’s decision.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret this month, Mr Owens said the group was prepared to continue to oppose the plan whatever the outcome of the appeal.

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A1 service station decision 'flies in the face of localism', say campaigners

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