MFG’s petrol station plans in Wednesbury to face scrutiny

By: Christian Barnett, Local Democracy Reporter

A plan to open a 24-hour petrol station in Wednesbury town centre will be decided by councillors after a complaint from a “very frustrated motorist.”

Petrol station forecourt operators Motor Fuel Group (MFG) has asked Sandwell Council for permission to sell alcohol from the petrol station between 6am and 11pm every day. The application also asks for permission to sell late-night refreshments between 11pm and 5am every day.

The petrol station would be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week if approved by Sandwell Council’s licensing committee on May 14.

But the application will be discussed by the council’s licensing committee after one objection was received over concerns the new licence would cause a “public nuisance.”

The objection from the “very frustrated motorist and local resident” said awarding the licence would add to problems to a busy road that was already regularly gridlocked.

“As you are well aware there is only one entrance to the filling station off High Bullen,” the objector said. “At peak times the area comes to a gridlock with motorists waiting on High Bullen to fill up or get any provisions.

“This will only increase if you grant the filling station a licence to sell alcohol. The average motorist does not pay by card at filling stations and likes to go in and pay.

If they are stuck in a queue [it’s] because most filling stations do not have or use their window for motorists looking to pay there for fuel only. We have all been stuck behind customers buying provisions and fuel.”

MFG  struck a £2.5bn deal with the supermarket chain at the start of the year which will see the forecourt operator take over more than 300 Morrisons petrol stations across the country.

The move is part of a plan to install ultra-rapid electric vehicle charging points in hundreds of forecourts.

Sandwell Council’s licensing committee meets from 10am in Oldbury on Tuesday, May 14.

(Local Democracy Reporting Service)