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A petrol retail story of our time
A continuing dispute with properties close to the Glenavy petrol
station and a bylaw enacted by Waimate District Council prohibiting
heavy vehicles on a Glenavy street, has led the owner to consider
closing the garage in South Canterbury, New Zealand.
The Glenavy community is divided over the likely closure of its sole
petrol station. The following illustrates the type of problems service
station owners can be confronted with leading to closure and the
detrimental of local communities.
Glenavy petrol station proprietor Gary Ford said he's shutting the
doors on February 1 because he's tired of wasting money trying to
appease residents and respond to directives from Waimate District
Council after the introduction of new bylaws.
The former Maheno Garage proprietor bought the Glenavy outlet in late
2006 but soon after came up against opposition to his operation.
"Within three months, I received anonymous complaints over the number
of truck-trailers sitting on the other side of State Highway 1.
"To stop that happening, we spent $45,000 and put in a truck pump close to our garage on the Pyke St side.
"This prompted further complaints about noise and road damage
supposedly caused by trucks and trailers going around the block to
access the pump. To stop these complaints, we closed the pumps between
11pm and 6am. "It didn't seem to matter that trucks have always driven
around the block to fill up here from the time the garage first opened.
History, it seems, doesn't count for anything," he said. He removed the
pump after a commissioner ruled it did not comply.
Hassles still continued after the placement of a diesel tank, and
affairs reached the point where the business was becoming uneconomic.
"Without the truckies' business, the garage can't operate," Mr Ford
said. He used to have the station's tank refilled once every
three days, he said, but now it was once every 10 days because of the
reduction in trucking business.
Despite a petition from other locals and customers in his support, Mr
Ford said he now held little hope for the future of the business.
"In the end, I can't win either way. The short story is the town is
going to lose its only petrol outlet. I can't afford to hang around.
We'll close down quickly," Mr Ford said. What are the other
residents going to do when the garage shuts? They will have to drive a
some distance to Oamaru for their fuel. (PetrolWorld).
Timeline summary up to January 2009
March 2007: Glenavy petrol station proprietor Gary Ford, at a cost of
$45,000, moves a diesel dispenser for trucks from close to State
Highway 1 to the rear of the business after complaints from Glenavy
residents that the trucks parked to use it were blocking access to the
main road.
March 27: Noel Jory who lives on Parker St, a block east from the
petrol station, rings Waimate District Council to complain that the
moved fuel dispenser is causing trucks to use Glenavy streets to get
access to the tank. He is advised by the council that no consent
applications had been made for moving the tank.
March and April: Mr Jory sends letters to the council about his concern the village streets are being used by trucks.
May 24: The council advises the Jorys that a tank of more than 3000 litres requires consent.
May 27: Mr Jory sends a letter to the council complaining that truck
and trailer units refuelling on Pyke St alongside the petrol station
are blocking access to the street.
June: Mr Jory sends letters to the council complaining the trucks are
leaving effluent on streets, including a photo showing Pyke St blocked
by a truck.
November: More letters are sent to the council from Mr Jory complaining
Parker St and Pyke St intersections and grass verges are being damaged
by trucks.
December: Glenavy garage owner agrees to turn truck tank off between
11pm and 6am to stop trucks coming into the village at night.
March 2008: Glenavy garage makes an application for consent for the diesel tank already installed.
April: Joint objection from Jorys and neighbours requesting all petrol
be dispensed from forecourt and that White, Parker and Pyke Sts and
Redcliffe Rd East are not used as a means of access to the forecourt.
June 23: Hearing for application heard before David W Collins who declines the consent for the diesel tank.
June: Glenavy garage owner moves the tank closer to the forecourt.
August: Meeting held with the council as Mr Jory and supporters complain that trucks are still using the village streets.
November: Waimate District Council considers bylaw which would mean no heavy traffic can use Parker St.
November: New Zealand Transport Association makes a submission opposing
the Parker St heavy vehicle restrictions stating the council has an
``anti-truck attitude''.
December 16: The council enacts a bylaw prohibiting heavy trucks from using Parker St.
January 2009: Glenavy garage owner Gary Ford proposes closing garage on
February 1 as the number of trucks visiting the garage has dropped and
the business is no longer profitable.
PetrolWorld February 2009
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