THE COMMERCIAL director of the company responsible for the Esso garage on Worcester Road has ‘humbly apologised’ to Droitwich residents for disturbing the peace by opening its petrol station 24 hours a day without permission.
Ilyas Munshi, from Euro Garages, made the apology through The Standard after we contacted him, following complaints from residents and councillors.
The forecourt store was operating around the clock, despite a retrospective planning application to open all hours being thrown out by Wychavon District Council on September 29 this year.
And now, following assurances from Mr Munshi, the hours of business will revert back to opening from 7am until 11pm.
Coun Tom Noyes (Cons/Witton) said residents were being kept awake by traffic passing through the Esso garage all through the night, which led to a warning from the council’s enforcement team and the company’s formal retrospective bid to open 24/7.
Coun Noyes said he received eight complaints from residents last Sunday (December 13) alone.
“Since the application to open 24 hours was rejected, they haven’t taken the slightest bit of notice.”
Coun Noyes added residents had already ‘fought long and hard’ when similar issues arose with the nearby Sainsbury’s garage.
Coun Noyes said Euro Garages had not only ignored the notice over its hours it had also, without planning permission, installed a cash machine outside its premises.
“They’ve had no approval for this and are proposing to put in yet another retrospective planning application.
“In my opinion, this big boy industry is trying to run ragged over us little people because they can afford to pay the fines. It shouldn’t be allowed.”
Robert Belcher, who lives next door to the petrol station and has been a Droitwich resident for 20 years, said a petition containing more than 30 signatures from fellow local residents had been submitted to oppose the company’s actions.
He said: “It affects us all a lot because residents here are not used to living with the constant noise of revving motorbikes and commercial vehicles throughout the night.”
Mr Munshi said the company had taken on 172 new premises recently and operated across 350 locations.
He said, ‘in hindsight’, had they ‘looked at the Droitwich site on its own,’ the company would have consulted residents.
Mr Munshi added: “We humbly apologise for any inconvenience to local residents. Our intention is to improve services, create jobs and to improve economic prosperity. The issue was brought to senior management’s attention and has now been addressed.”
On the installation of a cash machine, Mr Munshi said: “Please be assured we are also working with our ATM supplier to address the lighting glare and reflection concerns.”
