The proposal, for the United service station at Legana, involved demolishing the existing building and constructing a new building to include a fast food outlet. 

The recommendation was to approve the development, but Councillor Richard Ireland made an amendment to refuse proposal. 

Cr Ireland said the development had a detrimental impact on adjoining buildings and the unity of the locality. 

“My main issue is to do with the intersection of Bridgenorth Road. The TIA clearly states that the junction will reach capacity in 10 years. I don’t think it is right to propose a development that would actually cause an issue at a junction well within two years of being completed,” he said. 

Councillor Lynden Ferguson seconded the motion. 

“I do recognise that the West Tamar Council have tried to work with the applicant to try and improve it, however I don’t believe they have made enough changes,” he said. “The scale of the plans are very big.”

Councillor Geoff Lyons said he would not be voting for the original recommendation because of the infrastructure in the area.

“I would love to see this site developed but obviously the infrastructure on the road of the West Tamar Highway is inadequate for this development and so I would unfortunately be supporting the amendment,” he said.  

Councillor Peter Kearney said he agreed with Cr Lyons. 

“I think this is potentially a really good development and I would love to see it happen … but if you told the average people of the West Tamar that you were going to allow this to happen, with no improvements to that intersection, they would say ‘you’ve got to be joking’,” he said. 

Councillor Rick Shegog said the council isn’t anti-development, but wants other issues addressed first.

“It’s a shame we have to knock it back,” he said.

The amendment was passed unanimously.   

The site is only 30 per cent developed and has been a service station for more than 50 years. The proposal had more than 30 car spaces.