Ludlow filling station tanks will be safe report says
A new petrol station should have fuel tanks underground developers say, as a report has been submitted that is hoped to settle a delay in building it.
A long-awaited second filling station for Ludlow off Bromfield Road and Coronation Avenue was given the go-ahead in May 2015 but the £2.5 million has been beset by delays, not least over whether the tanks can be buried underground or not.
When given permission the tanks were agreed to be above the water table dude to pollution fears.
But developers Mead House Pension Fund later asked to change that and now a report has been submitted which claims to show the risk would be minimal.
The report, by Duncan Cartwright of SLR consulting, says: "The likelihood of a fuel release to ground is very small and detection and monitoring systems would identify a release in a short period of time."
But area councillor Andy Boddington said he was not convinced about the safety of underground tanks.
He said: "The report admits the calculations are 'theoretical' because specific measurements on site are not available.
"Any remedial action will require closure of the site while the tanks are dug out of the ground, investigated and, if necessary, replaced. That will take months to arrange and complete. It will cost hundreds of thousands of pounds.
"For every moment of inaction. carcinogenic benzene and other petroleum nasties will be seeping slowly but inexorably towards the Corve and the River Teme, a site of special scientific interest.
"Short of demolishing the entire petrol filling station and convenience store, nothing will prevent a poisoning of our delicate ecosystem.
"This site has an approved application for above ground petrol tanks. The developers should get on with implementing plans we agreed," he said.
The Environment Agency has yet to respond to the report.
