THE developer behind a proposed £2.5 million petrol station in Ludlow has moved to alleviate fears about pollution.

Mead House Pension Fund says that it plans to make the petrol filling station, that could create 30 jobs, one of the safest in the country by installing a state-of-the-art triple protection against any potential pollution risk.

The company is seeking planning permission from Shropshire Council to develop the former Burway Abattoir site on Bromfield Road, at the northern entrance to Ludlow.

Fears have been expressed by Councillor Andy Boddington, who represents Ludlow North on Shropshire Council, about the risk of fuel pollution of the Rivers Teme and Corve as well as Ludlow’s Boiling Well, an ancient spring situated in fields opposite, should the project go ahead.

However, James Evans, manager of Halls Commercial and spokesman for the developer, said the company was aware of the environmental sensitivity of the area and proposed extra investment to protect groundwater supplies.

Detailed plans submitted to the Environmental Agency would put in place measures to eliminate the risk of a leak from partially buried fuel storage tanks.

Double skin steel storage tanks would be placed within an engineered, impermeable concrete bund below ground level.

In addition to isolating the tanks from the groundwater table, the bund would have a storage capacity 25 per cent in excess of the tanks and any leak would be monitored and alarmed.

“The combination of impermeable concrete bunding combined with double skin steel tanks will effectively provide a triple containment system to protect the groundwater beneath the site,” said Mr Evans.

He said that the project, which also includes a 3,000 square foot convenience store and conversion of a residential property into a coffee house or restaurant, would create around 30 full and part-time jobs and offer more choice to the people of Ludlow, which currently has only one petrol station.

Councillor Andy Boddington said he continues to have concerns about the risk of pollution of the River Corve and is also worried about road safety at the junction near to Ludlow School. The councillor said he is arranging a meeting with the developer.