BOTLEY looks set to lose its petrol station with residents claiming the loss will keep people away from the new West Way shopping centre.

An application has been submitted to begin the second phase of the project to redevelop Seacourt Retail Park, including the demolition of the Hartwell Ford BP garage.

With no new petrol station expected in the redevelopment of West Way, the next nearest petrol station would be in Oxpens Road or at Sainsbury’s Heyford Hill store on the bypass.

Liberal Democrat district councillor Debby Hallett said: “The petrol station is not considered a community asset, which is unfortunate, as the nearest opportunity to fill the tank will now be miles away.

“This issue of a petrol station is one key reason I think shoppers won’t flock to whatever supermarket might end up at West Way.

“Many of us fill the tank as we fill our trolley, and we will still have to travel out of Botley to do that.”

If the Seacourt Retail park filling station goes, there will be nine remaining petrol stations inside or on the ring road.

The controversial £100m Doric scheme to redevelop the West Way shopping centre – rejected by Vale of White Horse District Council – included a large supermarket but no filling station.

Developer Mace has now to put forward smaller proposals preserving Elms Parade shops and Field House sheltered accommodation.

Botley resident Neil Cameron, a retired accountant, said of the petrol station: “It would take away any attraction of a big supermarket, I don’t want one in the area, but fuel would have been one of the things to bring people in.

He added: “The current petrol station is very expensive, I’ve used it once or twice but normally I drive to Heyford Hill.

“For those who don’t want to go far it will be very annoying.”

Work started in December 2013 on the £15m two-stage development of the Seacourt Retail park site, which is owned by British Airways Pension Trust.

The first phase, completed in April last year, included a Decathlon outdoor leisure store, JD Sports and bed store Dreams.

The second and final phase includes two small units that could be used as a coffee shop or sandwich bar and a restaurant in the retail park.

When completed the site, which is being developed by TDH Estates, is expected to have created 150 new jobs.

A consultation period on the proposals runs until June 11. Residents and businesses can comment by going to whitehorsedc.gov.uk and searching for planning application P15/V1039/FUL