Budgen's launches petition over Andover Road petrol station

If planning permission is granted, the Total service station will be demolished and replaced with a Sainsbury’s petrol station and Local shop, larger than the store currently located on site.
The manager of the nearby budgens supermarket, Mike Estlea, started the petition after being approached by numerous residents who wanted to take action to prevent the plan going ahead.
He said that he was doing what he could for his regular customers and to keep going, but that if Sainsbury's opened a Local less than half-a-mile away from his store, in Monument Close, Essex Street, his business would be at risk.
He said: "People don't realise what's happening, but when they do, it's uproar.
"It will have a huge impact on us, there's no doubt about it.
"It would put my business at risk."
A dozen angry people turned out to protest against the development at a planning and highways committee of Newbury Town Council last month, raising concerns over noise and light pollution, antisocial behaviour and parking issues.
Fiona Dickens, who lives close to the site, was among the crowd, and is angry about the plan.
She said: “This site was developed in 2003, I don’t think it looks particularly old and I don’t think it needs to be developed.
“There are nine parking spaces on the site, the shop is almost to double in size, they are to take on 15 members of staff and no extra parking spaces.”
Mrs Shields, whose garden backs onto the service station, said that she was kept awake by the bright lights on the forecourt and heavy-goods vehicles making deliveries in the middle of the night.
“Since the garage was built there have been a number of problems of noise and intrusive lighting,” she said, adding that a previous complaint had been met with the store manager advising her to buy thicker curtains.
Councillors at the meeting shared similar concerns, stating that the application showed disregard for local people.
Anthony Pick (Con, Newbury) said: “I propose that we object to this, essentially on the ground of complete failure to consider residents' circumstances.
“I think this is deplorable and is not compromised for by an improved facility.”
The application was greeted with a similar response by Greenham Parish Coucil last week, with councillors raising concerns over the number of pupils from Park House School, which is directly opposite the petrol station, using the store.
David Hale said: “When Park House throw out it’s absolute chaos down there,” adding that this would worsen if the development was approved.
A decision is expected by West Berkshire Council by January 24.