24-hour petrol station plans crackdown after ‘very frustrated’ driver complains

A plan to open a 24-hour petrol station in Wednesbury town center is to be decided by councilors after a complaint from a “very frustrated motorist”. Petrol station operators Motor Fuel Group has applied to Sandwell Council for permission to sell alcohol from the petrol station between 6am and 11pm every day.

The application also seeks permission to sell soft drinks late at night between 11pm and 5am every day. The petrol station would be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week if approved by Sandwell Council’s licensing committee on May 14.

But the application will be discussed by the council’s licensing committee after an objection was received over fears the new license would cause a “public nuisance”. The objection from the “very frustrated local driver and resident” said granting the license would add problems to a busy road that was already regularly blocked.

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“As you well know, there is only one entrance to the petrol station by High Bullen,” said the objector. “During rush hour the area becomes gridlocked with drivers waiting for the High Bullen to fill up or receive supplies. This will only increase if you give the gas station a license to sell alcohol. The average driver does not pay by card at petrol stations and likes to go in and pay.

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If they are stuck in line (it is) because most gas stations don’t have or use their windows for drivers who only want to pay there for fuel. We are all stuck behind customers buying supplies and fuel.” Motor Fuel Group struck a £2.5bn deal with the supermarket chain earlier this year which will see the forecourt operator take over more than 300 Morrisons petrol stations across the country.

The move is part of a plan to install ultra-fast charging points for electric vehicles in hundreds of yards. Sandwell Council’s Licensing Committee meets from 10am in Oldbury on Tuesday 14th May.