Concerns grow over A1 service station scheme

The plan is for a service station on farming land north of Beauford Farm, Holme, Biggleswade.

The two-storey construction will have a petrol station with 10 pumps, retail area, restaurant , coffee shop and toilet facilities as well as a children’s play area and garden area.

There will be around 250 parking spaces and 25 HGV parking bays along with eight coach parking spaces.

Developers say the scheme could bring more than 100 jobs to the area and indirectly support the demands and service needs raised by the 17,000 new jobs Central Beds Council is aiming to help create in the area between 2001 and 2026.

The existing Applegreen service station would be demolished.

But those objecting to the scheme say that although they are in favour of the service station plan, it does not go far enough to protect users.

Keith Rawlins, of Homecourt Avenue, Biggleswade, said the scheme raised health and safety issues.

“I’m for it but I’m concerned about employees and people from the retail park as well, walking to it across the A1 without either a bridge or a tunnel.

“It’s an accident waiting to happen.”

And the council’s Principal Planning Officer Alex Harrison, also raised an issue on the impact the closure of Applegreen would cause on the town.

In a response to developers he said: “One of the characteristics of Applegreen is to offer low fuel prices at its facilities.”

Consultation for the plans ends on May 6, and so far there are three residents in favour and 24 against. The plan can be seen on the Central Beds Council website.