‘Full steam ahead’ for Kingsclere £1.5m business project

The site of the former Kingsclere Service Station, off the A339 just outside Kingclere, is owned by Forelle Estates,and Mike Price, managing director for the company, told the NWN it was “full steam ahead,” for the site, to be let to Peregrine Retail Ltd. This was after Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council granted planning permission last Wednesday (June 11) for a new petrol station and Budgens convenience store at the site. “Work will start at the site in July, it will take about three months and is therefore likely to be finished by the autumn and before winter,” said Mr Price, adding the building was most likely to be completed by the end of October. The planning process, he continued, had proved a “red tape jungle” he said, which had delayed matters for months, after plans were submitted towards the end of last year (2013), with the long bureaucratic nightmare dashing hopes of an Easter opening this year (2014). “We haven’t made any changes - the issues were with the planning process,” said Mr Price, adding similar delays were experienced: “All over the country,” he said. We would get more economic growth if planning departments dealt with matters more efficiently,” he pointed out. Adjoining businesses at the site, including Nelson’s Diner, car servicing and car sales lots and MOT garage, had also heaved a sigh of relief at the approved plans, after being “negatively affected” he said, owing to the lengthy closure of the neighbouring service station. Contractors had been arranged and a manager lined up, to be transferred from another service station owned by the same company, with the opening set to bring some 20 jobs to the area, including full and part time, to be recruited locally. New to the plans was securement of a National Lottery sales point within the Budgens brand convenience store at the site, which Mr Price said had proved a feather in their cap: “It’s now difficult to get a National Lottery sales point at new outlets - but they are very popular with the punters at new service stations,” he said. Plans for the petrol station, which is likely to open between 6am and 11pm, also include an ATM (cash machine).