Villagers angry at plans for fuel tank farm

PLANS to turn a former garage in Charvil into a fuel tank farm have been criticised by residents.

Speedy Fuels wants to change the use of the old Grove Road Service Station in Old Bath Road to a fuel storage and distribution facility.

The site was formerly used by car body shop Prince Brothers, which closed in November.

The site, which is next to Charvil country park, would be operational from 5am to 6pm from Monday to Friday, from 5am to 2pm on Saturdays and from 6am to 4pm on Sundays and bank holidays.

The new business would have eight fuel oil storage tanks at the centre of the site.

The existing single-storey building to the rear of the site and the garage and extension to the west of the building would be demolished.

Another existing building would be used for administration purposes and the maintenance of the vehicle fleet. The storage tanks would be served by four loading “skids”.

In a planning application to Wokingham Borough Council, S & L Planning Consultants says the business would employ 28 people, 24 of them full time.

There would be 132 heavy goods vehicles, cars and vans accessing the site on weekdays while 32 vehicles would do so on Saturdays and eight on Sundays.

The vehicles would use hydrotreated vegetable oil to reduce harmful emissions.

Sixteen residents have submitted written objections to the council.

Kevin Harding, of Gingells Farm, says: “I find it astonishing that the proposed change of use to this location has got this far.

“The property borders on a country park with associated rivers and lakes.

“Some storage tanks already appear to have been installed and as far as I can see, there is no bunding installed for if a tank ruptures. The entire contents would flow into the water course.”

He also raised concerns about traffic volume and access.

Mr Harding says: “There are already issues with lorries accessing the adjacent business premises, blocking and narrowing the road.

“There will be a significant flow of HGVs in and out of the premises throughout the day, including weekends.

“This, coupled with the increased volume of traffic that we can expect from the proposed housing development on both sides of the A4, will have a significant impact on traffic flow into and out of Twyford from Charvil.”

Joanna Noy, of Charvil Meadow Road, says the proposal poses an unacceptable and significant risk to people in the area.

She says: “The proposed development is fundamentally incompatible with the rural nature of the surrounding area.

“The introduction of a fuel tank farm and a large fleet of heavy goods vehicles will industrialise a currently tranquil and green environment, undermining the rural character that residents value deeply.

“These roads are not designed to accommodate such large volumes of HGV traffic, raising serious concerns about congestion, road safety and damage to infrastructure.”

Alan Simpson, of The Hawthorns, Charvil, raises concerns about the impact on the wildlife in the neighbouring nature reserve.

He says: “The site is immediately adjacent to Charvil country park, which is of significant importance to local nature. In 2022, it was recognised as a Local Wildlife Site.

“The impact of this use of the site will only be negative to local valued nature through noise, air and light pollution.

“The country park and the meadows to the north of Old Bath Road are central to residents’ enjoyment of the area and, as already experienced, this was negatively impacted by the air pollution when Speedy Fuels started unapproved operations earlier this year.

“The site sits within flood zone 3, although it may have been raised to mitigate this.

“The recent increase in wetter summers means the potential risk of flooding on the site is increasing.

“Any leaks or spills of the volatile biodiesel stored on the site is likely to have an immediate and highly negative impact on local waterways, possibly spreading far and wide in periods of severe flooding as there is an integrated web from the River Thames to the north, stretching to at least Dinton Pastures to the south.”

Charvil Parish Council has objected to the application.