Plans for fuel tank farm in Charvil prompt environmental fears

Plans to turn a former garage in Charvil into a fuel tank farm have attracted a flurry of objections over environmental fears.

Speedy Fuels, a subsidiary of Crown Oil Ltd, wants to change the use of the old Grove 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.

If approved, the plans could see eight fuel oil storage tanks introduced at the centre of the site as well as the demolition of a number of buildings.

A planning application submitted to Wokingham Borough Council also estimates there will be 132 heavy goods vehicles, cars and vans accessing the site on weekdays during operational hours of 5am to 6pm.

Weekends would see fewer vehicles accessing the site with 32 predicted on Saturdays and eight on Sundays.

The application has attracted dozens of objections over fears about potential spillages into nearby watercourses.

Kevin Harding, of Gingells Farm, said: “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.”

He also raised concerns about traffic volume and access.

Mr Harding added: “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.”

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

He said: “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.”

An ecological impact assessment, submitted as part of the plans, said the nearby Charvil Country Park West may be indirectly impacted due to pollution or spillage during construction and operation of the proposed development.

But the report said a construction environment management plan will be enforced to avoid impacts on the area’s biodiversity.

A spokesperson for Speedy Fuels said all of its storage tanks are built within secondary containment systems, known as bunding, to prevent fuel seeping through into the nearby environment.

The company said an automated emergency shut off system will be in place to stop any fuels and oils being released to nearby watercourses or land.

A statement said: “The Crown Group, including Speedy Fuels storage operations, have a proven track record of experience and management of fuels storage facilities for over 75 years, therefore reducing the likelihood of an occurrence of an incident happening on the site.”

The applicant said renewable and sustainable fuels will also be used by heavy goods vehicles accessing the site to reduce the impact on the environment and air quality.