EG Group submits forecourt plans for derelict pub site in North Staffordshire

Fresh plans have come forward to transform a derelict pub site on a busy North Staffordshire roundabout – but the bid to build a KFC there has been dropped.

The Darlaston Inn and Wacky Warehouse  on the A34 north of Stone closed almost four years ago. The buildings remain boarded up and have been daubed with graffiti.

An application to build a drive-through KFC branch and a petrol station on the roundabout was refused permission by Stafford Borough Council because of fears for the safety of pedestrians. And an appeal against the decision was dismissed by a planning inspector in 2020.

Now a new proposal has been submitted to Stafford Borough Council. Euro Garages Ltd and Greene King are seeking consent to demolish the pub and indoor play centre to make way for a 24hr petrol filling station and sales building, which would include a convenience store, toilets and cash machine.

A planning statement submitted as part of the application said the petrol filling station was expected to create 30 new jobs. The site would also provide a 10-bay electric vehicle charging area.

The statement added: “This is a revised scheme addressing the highways concerns raised by the Planning Inspector in June 2020 when dismissing the appeal for the 2018 scheme. The revised scheme removes the drive-thru restaurant unit.

“Highways was the sole reason for refusal of the 2018 scheme and subsequent dismissal of the appeal. All other planning matters in terms of redevelopment of a previously developed Green Belt site, no harm to nearby Conservation Area and design were considered acceptable.”

The latest proposals have met with objections from residents. And Stone Rural Parish Council has raised concerns about pedestrian access and impact on the local environment.

A Meaford resident said: “The original application was declined – on appeal – due to concerns over highway safety. These concerns are still relevant with this current application.

“The Darlaston Island on the A34 is a fast dual carriageway with the additional complication of traffic from the A51 merging at this junction. If this application is approved, there would be vehicles wishing to use the proposed petrol filling station slowing down on the northbound outside (faster) lane of the A34 to enter the premises; similarly, there would be slow vehicles exiting onto the outside lane of the southbound A34 round the island.

“Access to and from this area for pedestrians/cyclists remains as hazardous as it was in the original application.

“Another concern is the possibility of forecourt petrol spillage or, however remote, leakage of fuel into the river Trent. Even a heavy downpour could wash forecourt spillage into the river.

“As other residents have stated, there are currently four petrol filling stations with ancillary services in Stone, two of which are within a couple of miles of this proposal.”

Another Meaford resident said: “We have to endure a very busy road during the day, but through the night it is relatively quiet at the moment unless there are M6 problems, which occur all too frequently – then it is so noisy it is difficult to sleep. This proposal will mean an increase in noise and light pollution as there are a number of illuminated signs proposed to be lit 24/7.

“The Darlaston Inn is an old Coaching Inn dating back to the 19th century or maybe even earlier. There is a plaque within the building suggesting this.

“Whilst it is in great need of sympathetic repair and restoration, it is part of the village and should not be demolished to put a brash, commercial eyesore within our green belt area, adjacent to Meaford conservation area.”

A Bury Bank resident said: “The proposed 24-hour use of the site will have a major effect in a residential area both in terms of lighting and noise nuisance and is totally out of character with the area.

“When the Darlaston Inn was operational and during busy times there were times when the drains overflowed due to a lack of capacity. The current proposal including a car wash would inevitably cause considerable issues dealing with large quantities of water, not to mention sewage that the existing system was not designed to take and would inevitably cause a pollution and health risk.”