A fuel station in Caversham that is surrounded by homes has been allowed to operate 24 hours a day despite lingering concerns it could cause a disturbance.

The fuel station at 182-184 Henley Road serves BP fuel with a convenience store run by Londis.

Staff are currently allowed to sell food and alcohol between 6am and 11pm Monday to Saturday, and 7am to 11pm on Sundays.

The site is owned by the Motor Fuel Group (MFG ), which applied for 24-hour alcohol sales and food sales between 11pm to 5am each day.

MFG has previously achieved permission to operate for 24-hours in 2019-2020, 2021, but only on a temporary basis, with it recently securing temporary permission for round-the-clock operations for six months in 2023.

But concerns have been raised that the increased activity could cause disturbance to neighbours, as a number of semi-detached properties surround the fuel station. 

The licensing application for 24-hour sales received an objection from a Reading Borough Council planning officer triggering a licensing applications sub-committee meeting.

Robert Botkai of Winckworth Sherwood solicitors argued that MFG runs approximately 1,000 fuel stations, with many operating round-the-clock. 

Councillor Amjad Tarar (Labour, Battle) questioned whether the 24-hour sales application had been submitted to meet customer demand or for the simple purpose of expanding the business.

Mr Botkai replied: "There has to be a demand for the business to succeed."

He added that no members of the public had objected to the application.

Cllr Paul Woodward (Labour, Church) asked: "Is this a destination for shopping?"

Mr Botkai answered: "No. People pull up, buy items from the night window in accordance with planning rules, and carry on."

The conflict between licensing and planning rules became a major part of the debate, particularly as MFG has only secured temporary planning permission for 24-hour sales in the past.

Micky Leng (Labour, Whitley), lead councillor for planning, said: "Why didn't you go with the six months, show everything is tickety-boo, then apply for a licence? It doesn't quite match up to me."

Addressing that point, Mr Botkai stated the licensing application has been made to line up with the planning permission and MFGs nationwide operations.

Planning officer Weekes spoke in objection to the application, raising concerns that increased activity could lead to noise disturbance, anti-social behaviour and littering.

She said: "Residences surround the site. Because of the concern of noise and manoeuvring around the site, it had been a temporary planning permission to allow the business to justify that there was no harm.

"It would be better to have a temporary licensing permission to be concurrent with planning."

A debate arose around the potential for noise and binge drinking ith concerns people could continue purchasing alcohol after visits to the neighbouring Traveller's Rest pub.

Answering that point, Mr Botkai said:  "For every application for MFG, we are told they are surrounded by homes, it's not unusual, often we hear people come from pubs to buy beer.

"We don't believe that's the way, it's not our experience, if that is an issue, please report it to staff."

Ultimately, the committee granted the 24-hour sales application, on the condition that alcohol can only be sold between 10pm and 7am from a night pay window.

The decision lined up with a planning condition that sales after 10pm should be conducted through this window. 

The committee made the decision at a meeting on Tuesday, November 26.

The temporary planning permission for 24-hour sales (application reference 230023) was approved on August 11, 2023.