24-hour garage bid for town

An application has been made to allow a prominent Herefordshire petrol station and licensed shop to stay open 24 hours a day.

The operator of the Texaco garage on the Bromyard bypass, Motor Fuel Group (MFG) of St Albans, wants to change a condition of the permission granted to its previous operator SGN in July 2021 to redevelop the shop and expand the forecourt.

The condition limited the expanded retail area to its current opening hours of between 7am and 10pm each day, “to safeguard the amenities of the locality”.

MFG, which appears to have only recently taken over the station,  said two weeks ago that further refurbishment meant the store, rebranded as a Budgens, “now boasts a food-to-go offer” as well as expanded drinks and grocery sections.

The company also applied earlier this year to extend its licence to sell alcoholic drinks and prepared food to 24 hours a day. Consultation on the bid closed on March 29.

Comments on the planning application, numbered 230976, can be made until May 12.

The town’s other petrol station, Top Garage on the A465, is due to be redeveloped for housing pending approval of a revised planning application.