Concerns about increased noise and disturbance have been raised over a plan for a fuel station in Caversham to be open 24 hours a day.

The Leander Service Station, also known as the Henley Road fuel station, provides BP fuel with a store run by Londis that sells a range of food, snacks, and alcoholic drinks.

The fuel station along the busy A4155 Henley Road is currently allowed to sell food, drinks and alcohol from 6am to 11pm Monday to Saturday and  7am to 11pm Sunday according to its existing premises licence.

But recently Motor Fuel Ltd, the company which owns the fuel station has applied for it to be open for 24 hours each day.

READ MORE: Caversham fuel station store bids for 24-hour alcohol and food sales

A decision on the changed hours is due to be decided by Reading Borough Council's licensing applications sub-committee following concerns about the impact 24-hour operations could have on neighbours.

Motor Fuel Ltd has periodically won planning approval to operate all day on a temporary basis.

Street imagery shows advertising for 24-hour operations in April 2021, October 2020 and May 2019. 

The most recent planning application for round-the-clock operations was approved on the condition that the station be closed with sales restricted to a night pay window.

Council planning officer Nathalie Weekes has objected to the application, raising concerns about noise and disturbance issues that could arise if the change goes ahead.

Her objection letter states: "I cannot agree to this proposed permanent variation to hours and conditions due to the planning application history for the above address.

"A temporary period for extended hours of opening for a period of six months has been provided under planning application 230023 for the premises to evidence that that extended opening hours will not result in a harmful impact on the surrounding area.

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"The premises has not yet confirmed that this extended opening trial period has commenced.

"The premises has also been unable to prove that extended opening hours would not result in noise and disturbance to neighbouring properties."

The fuel station is situated next to the Traveller's Rest 'Sizzling' pub restaurant and semi-detached homes along Henley Road.

READ MORE: Caversham pub and grill reopens after 250k revamp 

Concluding her arguments, she wrote: "A variation for a permanent change in licensing hours would result in an unacceptable loss of residential amenity to neighbouring and nearby properties due to increased traffic, noise and disturbance."

Instead, she suggested that the licence should only be granted for a temporary period to determine whether the operations will create a nuisance or not.

Furthermore, she asked that all sales between 10pm and 7am overnight be conducted from a night service kiosk. 

No members of the public objected to the licensing application during a statutory consultation. 

The 24-hour operations are due to be decided at a licensing applications sub-committee meeting on Tuesday, November 26.