COUNCILLORS have approved plans for a petrol station at the ‘gateway’ to Hereford which will increase traffic congestion at the city’s busiest roundabout.

Asda Supermarket store on the Belmont roundabout has been granted permission to build the petrol station costing £1.5 million at the entrance to its store.

Its approval could see competition among the city's nine other petrol stations for the lowest prices increase as the supermarket giant is renowned for its petrol deals.

Highways England said it will not bring about a ‘severe impact’ on the traffic and would only attract 64 more vehicles during rush hour to the 3,000 which already use the route.

Cllr Len Tawn was one of many councillors who disagreed with this comment at today's council's planning committee at Hereford Town Hall.

He said: “I believe it will have a severe impact as everybody will know that a minor accident or breakdown anywhere near the bridge causes complete chaos. So this will adversely effect the safe flow of traffic.”

The station will have 12 pumps and the option for customers to to pay at either the pump or kiosk.

Motorists will access and exit the petrol station from the existing junction onto the island.

Despite several members opposing the plans, council officers said that a rejection decision would be hard to defend if it was then appealed.

The committee voted nine in favour and six against with one abstention.

Councillors had also raised concerns over the image that the petrol station would give to Hereford visitors. 

"This is an important gateway to the city in a conservation area," added Cllr Antony Powers.

"This is no way good enough for such an important location. If all the council can do is throw our arms in the air then we need to look at our policies."

Alan Jones, senior communications manager at Asda, said that during a two day exhibition held to discuss the petrol station plans 450 signatures of support were received.

After the approval decision he said: “We're delighted with today's decision by the planning committee to approve our plans for a new petrol filling station at our Hereford store. 

"This investment responds to customer requests for a more competitively priced place to fill up and we look forward to starting works in the coming months."