Asda drives down price of fuel across country

Local Cllr Alan Cambers Left and some of the members of the local community group, organised on facebook, celebrate their successful opposition to the proposed Asda Filling Station at Kings Park Retford

12 April 2013
Image © Paul David Drabble — Local Cllr Alan Cambers Left and some of the members of the local community group, organised on facebook, celebrate their successful opposition to the proposed Asda Filling Station at Kings Park Retford 12 April 2013 Image © Paul David Drabble

Members voted 11 to 1 at the authority’s planning meeting onWednesday 10th April against the plans to build the automated filling station on the overflow car park site.

The supermarket chain applied to Bassetlaw Council to build the petrol station to the east of the site with the western part laid out as a formal car park.

But campaigners objected to the move as the proposed development was next to King’s Park and located within the Retford Conservation Area.

Bassetlaw ward councillor and Friends of Kings Park chairman Coun Alan Chambers said it was ‘excellent news’.

“Common sense has prevailed. I remember when that site used to be a play park when I was a child - it should be at the hands of the people and not Asda,” he said.

“A petrol station there would be of detriment to the park and the local area as a whole.”

Coun Chambers said the objection to the filling station was mainly on grounds of its location.

“It would be a great idea if Asda built one between Retford and Worksop - we have no problems with that,” he said.

“The location is the problem - you have got to take into account that the fact the site would be near the fire, police and ambulance station, and any increased traffic could pose a safety risk.”

He added: “Morrisons operate a split site with their supermarket and petrol station in Retford and that operates well.”

“It’d be great if an Asda petrol station could be built between Retford and Worksop as we don’t have one in the area and it could help fuel prices which are quite high compared to other areas.”

An Asda spokesman said it was a shame planning committee members voted against the application.

“We’re disappointed that the voting went against Asda to bring cheaper fuel Retford,” she said.

“The Office of Fair Trading recently recognised that Asda consistently offers drivers the lowest fuel prices nationwide week in, week out.”

“Most of our rivals hide behind local pricing policies, which in our view take advantage of drivers unlucky enough not to have an Asda fuel station nearby.”

What do you think of the decision to turn down the application? Let us know by emailing [email protected] or by calling 01909 500500.