Drive for second petrol station
PORTISHEAD could soon get a long-awaited second fuel station as part of fresh plans for a retail development in the town.
Furniture giant Arthur Llewellyn Jenkins has submitted fresh plans to build a new 45,000sq ft store, 10,000 sq ft retail unit and a fuel station on a 1.43 hectare site at Gordano Gate off Wyndham Way.
The retailer already has permission to build an 80,000 sq ft store and warehouse on the site – which is adjacent to the proposed new Sainsbury's store.
The plans see the main store halved in size and an additional retail unit created along with the fuel station.
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Portishead, which has a population of around 22,000, only has the Waitrose petrol station at Cabstand.
People needing fuel when the filling station is closed have to travel along the already congested Portbury Hundreds to the M5 Gordano Services or to the neighbouring towns of Nailsea or Clevedon.
Bosses at the furniture giant say the petrol filling element of the scheme would bring a "well-needed increase in choice ".
Portishead councillors have welcomed the news the town could get its long awaited second fuel station.
Councillor Arthur Terry said: "There is a real desire among the people of Portishead for a second fuel station.
"This is something which really is needed in the town. However this has to be balanced against the fact that there are plans for an additional retail unit within this scheme.
"If the additional unit is to be used for the furniture store then that won't be a problem, but we do not want an additional business there which could detract trade away from the High Street."
Supermarket giant Sainsbury's had hoped to find a site for a filling station as part of its plan to build a new 30,000 sq ft store on land at Serbert Way.
But as yet a suitable site has not been found.
Work on the supermarket is due to start later this year with the store opening by autumn 2013.
No one from Arthur Llewellyn Jenkins was available for comment.
Comments
by Trucks79
Tuesday, July 31 2012, 8:23PM
“I for one think this is a great move for the area and it certainly could do with a second one.”
by CityClarky
Tuesday, July 31 2012, 6:02PM
“PortisheadAH1....no thats the plan.
Why would a funiture shop want a petrol station?”
by PortisheadAH1
Tuesday, July 31 2012, 3:14PM
“Yes we need another petrol station but not another expensive one. I doubt many people from Portishead go to the Gordano Services to fill up and with Sainsbury's petrol recently being consistently 6p per litre cheaper than petrol stations in Portishead and Clevedon, I am happy to go to Sainsbury's in Weston and shop there at the same time. But I still support my local shops as well. Even a 2p staff discount at Clevedon Shell does not bring the price down sufficiently to beat Sainsbury's. Come on Sainsbury's, put in a counter proposal for a petrol station in Portishead and if necessary, purchase the land off Arthur Llewellyn Jenkins for it. Now that's an idea.....”