Issa brothers’ service station proposal rejected

Plans for a new service station in Greater Manchester, situated off the M62, have been turned down, meaning the facility will not be constructed. Euro Garages, an entity established in Bury by brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa, who are based in Blackburn, had sought permission to construct a petrol station along with two drive-through restaurants on Sir Isaac Newton Way, located close to a motorway junction. This proposed development, intended for the area surrounding Kingsway Business Park in Rochdale, was projected to create employment for up to 70 individuals locally. However, planning officers rejected the application, concluding that the unbranded drive-through service would “fail to support healthy lifestyles.” Additionally, Rochdale Borough Council determined that the new facility’s impact on traffic would result in an unacceptable degree of harm to nearby residents, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Within the plans submitted to the authority, which incorporated provisions for a car jet wash and electric charging points, Euro Garages asserted its belief that the location would not contribute to an increase in local traffic, but rather cater to the existing flow of passing motorists. A report from an inspector representing the Department for Transport indicated that this development “would go some way to meeting an otherwise unmet, or inadequately met, need for a petrol station and motorist facilities in the area.” Nevertheless, a subsequent council report countered this by pointing out inaccuracies within the planning statement. The council report stated: “The statement is based on an incorrect and incomplete assessment which argues the proposals would fill a strategic gap in motorist fuel, food and beverage and rest provision.” The applicant claimed that Birch services, located 24 miles distant, represented the nearest westbound services from Junction 21. However, for traffic proceeding westbound from Junction 21, Birch services are, in fact, less than six miles away. Furthermore, the statement indicated that Hartshead Moor services were the closest eastbound option, also cited as 24 miles away; yet, the eastbound section of Hartshead Moor services is actually less than 19 miles from Junction 21. Last year, Hartshead Moor East services received the ranking of worst in Britain for the second consecutive year.