Plans for a new petrol station and electric vehicle charging on the A47 and A6003 at Uppingham

Plans have been put forward to build a new petrol and electric vehicle charging station.

Located on greenfield land on the A47 roundabout north of Uppingham, the application has been made by Recharge Roadside Services, which is based in Tinwell Road, Stamford.

Included in the proposal that Rutland County Council will consider on Tuesday (October 19) are eight fuel pumps and six electric vehicle charging points as well as a coffee shop, convenience store and 40 parking spaces.

The scheme also earmarks land for hydrogen car refuelling in the future.

Access would be from an additional exit off the existing A47/A6003 roundabout.

In a report directed at councillors on the planning committee, council officers have recommended the application is approved, stating that while there have been objections to the scheme it is compliant with policy SP7, which allows non-residential development in the countryside including investment in infrastructure such as roadside services.

The statement adds: “[It] will not be prominent in the countryside, will not impact adversely on Uppingham town centre and will make a valuable longer term contribution towards helping combat climate change.”

But Paul Waterworth, who lives in Preston, is concerned.

In a letter to the Rutland Times, he said: “Anyone who knows this roundabout will know how dangerous it can be.

“The proposal envisages a link with the petrol station close to the roundabout. A new petrol station is clearly unnecessary.

“Less than four miles away there are two petrol stations at Morcott.

“To build on a greenfield site outside the agreed development plan should surely only be considered in exceptional circumstances.

“Building an unnecessary petrol station does not meet this criterion.”

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