Alternative fuel station set for approval
Plans to turn a car sales yard into an alternative vehicle fuel filling station are set for approval following a supporting petition from 93 drivers.
Birmingham City Council’s planning committee is due to decide on a planning application to create a new liquid petroleum gas (LPG) filling station at a previously vacant site in Washwood Heath Road, Ward End.
The application has been recommended for approval from officers, despite a counter-petition from 20 residents who object on grounds including health and safety.
The applicant, Super Gaz Ltd, proposes to install five 2,200 litre LPG tanks, four customer parking spaces and a canopy, with customers to be served by attendants.
The tanks would be painted steel and measure 1.4m x 1.07m x 3.1m and would sit on a concrete base measuring 12.5m wide and 5.3m long.
The proposed canopy would be 2.95m high, 4.6m wide and 12.5m long while the existing single storey office would stay in place.
The proposed hours of opening would be 6am to 12 midnight, Monday to Sunday including Bank Holidays.
A report from officers states “a petition has been submitted in support of the proposal by LPG users and occupants of 93 addresses”.
A petition against the plan signed by 20 residents was also received, who objected on grounds including traffic, the lack of an entrance or exit in plans and health and safety concerns.
Additional concerns raised by residents state the tanks could be a “danger to public”, and it was claimed there are two LPG filling stations within one mile of the proposal and another within 1.5 miles.
No objections were raised by the Health and Safety Executive or the Environment Agency.
Ward End Social Club and Bowling Green, a Grade II-listed building, lies to the east and the north, and a fire station is next to the site on the west.
West Midlands Fire Service and Historic England did not object to the proposal, and planning officers state the development would not have a detrimental impact on the social club.
Planning officer Harjap Rajwanshi recommended the plans were approved subject to conditions and said: “This application is recommended for approval.
“The proposed change of use of the building would not have a harmful impact on the visual amenity and character of the surrounding area, on residential amenity, on the setting of the adjacent listed building or on highways safety and parking.
“I therefore do not consider that there are sustainable grounds upon which to recommend refusal of the application.”
LPG is an alternative to petrol and diesel which reportedly produces fewer CO2 emissions and nitrogen oxides.
It is reportedly cheaper to fill up a car with LPG than petrol or diesel, though there is a cost to converting a car designed for petrol or diesel to run on LPG.
There are 1,947 LPG stations across the UK according to FillLPG.co.uk but only around a dozen in Birmingham according to the site.
The application will be put to the city council’s planning committee at an online meeting on May 21 at 11am which can be viewed at: civico.net/birmingham
