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16
Feb 2021
'There is a need' for A1 service station near Kirby Hill, inquiry told
The company behind a proposed motorway service station on the A1 near Kirby Hill has told a public inquiry there is an “established need” for the facility.
Applegreen Plc, a Dublin-based company which runs filling stations in the USA, UK and Ireland, is appealing a decision by Harrogate Borough Council to reject its plan in 2019.
It is the fourth time the development, just north of Boroughbridge, has been brought before a planning inquiry in 25 years.
David Rose, the government’s planning inspector, opened the inquiry this morning.
The inquiry is also hearing an appeal from Moto Hospitality for a service station at junction 50 near Ripon. The borough council refused the plan in October last year.
The hearings are being held online due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Opening statements were heard from Applegreen, the borough council, Moto Hospitality and Kirby Hill Residents Against Motorway Services today.
'Urgent' need for services
Rhodri Price Lewis, who is representing Applegreen, said there was an “established need” for a new motorway service area between Wetherby services and Leeming Bar.
He said the “primary function” of services is to support safety and welfare of drivers.
Read more:
Villagers battle weary as fourth inquiry into A1 service station starts
A1 service station plan to enter fourth inquiry
- Two A1 service station appeals to be heard in New Year
Mr Price Lewis argued that government policy now required services to be located no more than 28 miles apart and that the distance between Wetherby and Leeming Bar exceeded this.
He told the inquiry:
He added the £40 million Applegreen site would create a “substantial amount” of new jobs.
Addressing concerns the site would encroach into the open countryside, Mr Price Lewis said it was “inevitable” and “inescapable” that agricultural land would have to be used “if the need is to be met”.
Meanwhile, Peter Dixon, speaking on behalf of Moto Hospitality, said the proposed services near Ripon would better serve the A1.
He told the inquiry that a delay in the upgrade at Leeming Bar, which was given permission in 2012, demonstrated an “urgent” need for a new service station.
Developers “will not take no for an answer”
Stephen Wale, representing Harrogate Borough Council, told the inquiry there was no need for the services.
He added the Applegreen site would encroach into open countryside and harm the landscape.
Mr Wale said drivers already had the benefit of two services within a short distance of each other and that the proposed site was not allocated in the council's Local Plan, which is the blueprint for future planning in the district.
He said:
The inquiry also heard from Gareth Owens, chair of Kirby Hill RAMS, who spoke on behalf of residents.
He said the Applegreen site had already been rejected by councillors, inspectors and the High Court multiple times over the last 25 years.
Mr Owens said:
He added that the residents’ group disagreed with claims from the developer that the distance between the two current services was 28 miles.
Mr Owens said the service station was not needed and would be an “unnecessary development”.
The inquiry is expected to continue for 11 days.
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