An online petition has been started to try and stop EG On The Move from building a new forecourt on the A69 Warwick Road in east Carlisle.
The ‘Help stop the construction of a petrol station on a flood plane (sic) area in Warwick road (sic)’ was started a week ago on the Change.org website and to date has 412 verified signatures. The petition was set up by Cumberland councillor Robert Betton (Botcherby, Independent).
The change.org page says the petition is “reaching out to all citizens, particularly in the Carlisle area for their help to support residents campaigning to stop a development project of an all-night petrol station and coffee/retail shop.”
“The submitted development is proposed to be built on a Grade 3 high-level floodplain zone, off Warwick Road – a region still scarred from the devastating flooding caused by Storm Desmond in 2015 and prior to this a major flood in 2005,” it goes on.
The petition’s wording adds that there is “anxious concern” about the increase in the “harmful exhaust fumes” affecting air quality as well as the potential damage to or loss of trees. Other concerns include public safety, an influx of vehicles, traffic conditions, pedestrian safety and road drainage.
“This is a plea for rational planning and development that respects the environment and the community’s needs”, it says.
Meanwhile, on the Cumbrian Council website, there have now been more than 400 objections to EG On The Move’s application.
Objections include:
• “I object due to the heavy flow of traffic already on Warwick road. There is a fuel station up the road and plenty (of) coffee drive thrus in Carlisle.”
• “This development would be the height of irresponsibility. Having lived on Warwick Rd during the last significant flooding this is not a site that should be built on.”
• “I am completely surprised that this proposal is even be(ing) considered in the first place as it is COMPLETELY DUPLICATING facilities already offered at Tesco fuel station just a short walk/drive away. The claim that it will serve M6 traffic is ridiculous as Tesco petrol and takeaway coffee facilities are just off the M6 roundabout and why would anyone in their right mind bother to drive the extra 10 mns that it can take to drive down the already heavily congested road from Tesco to the proposed site?”
The Environment Agency has already objected to the proposals for the new petrol filling station and recommends they be refused due to the concerns about flooding.
