A KIRKBY-in-Furness busi-nessman whose plans for a

24-hours-a-day petrol station and a vehicle recovery business at Greenodd were rejected, has made changes to try to allay residents' fears.

Applicant Ian Curwen, who also has recovery operations at Kirkby-in-Furness and Eskdale, submitted his first set of plans for the new business to South Lakeland District Council late last year.

In February it was rejected after the council's planning committee received 61 letters of objections against the plans, centred at the Hurley and Peake Service Station, just off the A5092.

Mr Curwen has submitted a second planning permission but has decided not to open the garage and shop 24-hours-a day.

Planning officer at SLDC Nick Hayhurst said Mr Curwen did not need planning permission to open the garage and shop 24-hours-a-day, as it had been a long established use.

Mr Curwen said: "I don't need planning permission for the garage but I have decided not to open it 24-hours a day because residents were concerned about the disturbance it may cause. They were worried about young people hanging around late at night and creating a lot of noise, so I've decided it is not a good idea."

Mr Hayhurst said the main reason Mr Curwen's first application was turned down was because of the noise nuisance.

Mr Curwen said he still planned to open the vehicle recovery business 24-hours-a-day but that the noise would be reduced to a minimum. "Each night I have two or three lads on call and they take the recovery vehicles home with them, so they set off from there if they are called out."

At a public meeting in Greenodd on Tuesday night, organised by Egton with Newland Parish Council, Mr Curwin explained that 80 per cent of vehicles were fixed at the roadside.

"So, only about two per cent of vehicles would be brought back to Greenodd at night and we would keep the noise to the minimum," he said.

If given the go ahead, Mr Curwen said the new development would create six jobs.

Chairman of the parish council Geoffrey Moore said following the public meeting, attended by more than 30 residents, councillors would "deliberate" before sending their comments to SLDC.

May 2, 2003 10:00