Roadside service station at Pwllheli Road, Bontnewydd

What was proposed

The application proposed a service station with fuel pumps, a shop, electric vehicle charging, parking, HGV facilities, landscaping and biodiversity works.

“Proposal: Roadside services and associated work.”

“Description: This is a full application for a service station that provides fuel to vehicles, including an associated shop on a site near Meifod roundabout. Access to the site is from the A4871 Pwllheli Road.”

Officer report

The site

The site was beside the A487 near a roundabout, covered 1.21 hectares of grade 3b agricultural land and lay outside the development boundary.

“The application site is located directly next to the A487 strategic road network, which was designed to bypass the village of Bontnewydd and Caernarfon town. Access to the site is from a roundabout to a south-easterly direction and then 100m along Pwllheli Road. The development site extends over an area of 1.21 hectares and is located on a parcel of grade 3b agricultural land with existing access.”

“The site is located outside the development boundary as set out in the LDP. The site does not lie within any other land designations. However, the site is located within the consultation zone of the Afon Gwyrfai Special Area of Conservation on the basis of Phosphorus impact and approximately 300m from a Wildlife Site.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The applicant’s agent supported approval, while Councillor Menna Trenholme opposed the application and urged refusal.

What members debated

Members debated future fuel demand, local businesses, traffic, litter, countryside impacts, biodiversity, agricultural land and whether existing services met demand.

“If required, only a charging resource would be needed • Acknowledged that such a station would create litter along the roads and incur costs for the Council • Disagreed with the statement 'respond to the existing demand' - that local businesses and stations along the road would be happy with the business, therefore should we not encourage and promote local businesses that provide the current service - these were services in local communities that took pride in their…”

“…and the rationale for their objections was fair • PCYFF1 - the proposal was located outside the development boundary - it was not an 'exceptional' location • PCYFF 1 - there was sufficient provision in the area, therefore there was a need to challenge the need and consider the cumulative impact • Policy 6 Retail - the retail unit and the fuel station would pose a threat to local businesses • Policy 7 Retail - there would be an increase in litter…”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee refused the application because it found insufficient sustainability, amenity, visual and biodiversity safeguards.

“Reasons: • The proposal did not fully comply with the sustainability principles of Policy PS6 • It would have a detrimental impact on the amenities of the area and nearby residents, and this was contrary to criterion 7 of Policy PCYFF 2 • The proposal would have a detrimental visual impact, and this was contrary to policy PCYFF 3 • The proposal to mitigate the impact of the proposal in terms of biodiversity or biodiversity enhancements was insufficient and therefore contrary…”

Minutes