PLANS for a proposed replacement petrol garage and convenience store in Longtown have been approved.

Cumberland Council's planning committee met at Allerdale House in Workington on Wednesday (October 16) to consider the application from James Hall and Co.

It is for a site near the junction of Bridge Street and Bank Street which includes the existing Bridge Street Garage which was described in the planning application as being operated by Esso – however when members attended a site visit on Monday (October 14) they found it was actually a Shell garage.

As well as replacing the petrol filling station and new Spar convenience store the application requests permission for a fuel canopy and fuel pumps, associated car park, infrastructure and underground fuel tanks following the demolition.

In addition, a warehouse building, residential dwellings at 6a and 6b Bank Street would also be demolished as well as the refurbishment and partial demolition of 12 and 14 Bridge Street.

However, Chris Hardman, the council's head of development management, told members that the buildings in Bridge Street would no longer pulled down following an objection from a conservation officer.

In addition, he said that a neighbouring field would be converted into a parking area, there was a slight variation in the height of the old and new canopies and the applicant had proposed a one-way system for vehicles which should improve safety concerns for pedestrians.

Councillor Christine Johannsen, from Arthuret parish council, objected to the proposal and said the parish council objected to the proposal mainly because of road safety concerns.

She said this particularly related to "access and egress" to the A7 and added: "The existing petrol station is very busy [at certain times]."

Ward councillor Tim Pickstone (Longtown, Lib Dems) said in a statement, which was read out to the committee, that he shared the road safety concerns and added: "It's a busy trunk road on its way to Scotland."

He said it was a difficult site to access and it was on the wrong side of the road as most of the residents lived on the other side of the road.

"There will be an increase in traffic using the petrol station site because it's now going to be a shop and petrol station," he added.

Councillor Tony Markley (Solway Coast, Conservative) wondered if the application was legally sound, because it referred to an Esso garage when in reality it was operated by Shell, and he was told that was how it was referred to in the gazetteer used by the planning department.

A spokeswoman for the applicant told members it had been a long application process which began in 2022 and, if planning permission was granted, it would provide a modern petrol station for the town.

She referred to the road safety concerns and said that the existing petrol filling station had operated there for years and, if planning permission was granted, redevelopment could begin as early as next spring or summer.

Councillor Roger Dobson (Corby and Hayton, Lib Dems) said there had been a petrol filling station there for decades, but he felt a modern building would not be in keeping with the heritage area, but added: "Longtown would benefit from a better retail facility."

Members were told by a highways officer that despite the safety concerns that according to the accident statistics for the area there had only been one incident over a number of years and he would only be concerned if the area suffered from "severe congestion".

Councillor Chris Southward (Denton Holme, Labour) wondered if the proposed one-way system was a good idea and the highways officer said that it was.

Councillor John Mallinson (Houghton and Irthington, Conservative) said he knew Longtown very well and he recognised what Cllr Pickstone was saying and he wondered if the gravity of residents' concerns had been fully considered?

Cllr Markley proposed that they approve the application and included the proposed one-way system and when the matter was put the vote five members were in favour, one was against and there were two abstentions so the motion was carried.

The planning report states that the site extends to approximately 0.3 hectares and comprises a petrol filling station with associated kiosk, a two-storey former workshop, a pair of semi-detached dwellings.

It is proposed that there would be six fuel pumps and, according to the report, it would provide employment opportunities – 15 full time and 15 part time staff – in addition to the short-term jobs in construction.