Disappearing petrol stations?

[Giles]

I’m finding they’re disappearing rapidly.

Latest (this week) is the BP on the sarf Circ as you leave Tulse Hill eastward (ho!) towards Dulwich.

Has to be a combination of land prices and the nod from the ODPM to local authorities to let slip the dogs of redevelopment on just about any brownfield site.

I’ve noticed similar with some extra large pub sites around south London, as well – urban landscape is going through a new phase that’s for sure.

London needs more housing, and there isn't much profit in petrol sales.

The trend is for fewer but larger petrol stations, that incorporate other revenue-generators, like a big car-wash, car-vac, mini-supermarket, etc.

No-one objects much when a petrol station disappears - unless its the last one for miles around - because a petrol garage isn't something most people want next door. Petrol smells, fumes, car noise at all hours, etc.

When they close in the country its more caused by over-zealous safety rules rather than high land value for alternative uses. This is stupid and annoying. If the garage has been there for years, how can it suddenly have become "dangerous". Its bollocks.

Local people should have a vote, not just be told it has to close if they can't afford to spend £1/2m upgrading it.

Giles..

 

[T & P]

Thing is many garages handily double up as handy 24 hour shops. I don't have the need often but I've been known to walk down to the now gone BP garage on Thurlow Park Rd. at an unholy hour to get anything from rolling paper to cat food to milk. No longer sadly.

 

[guinnessdrinker]

Willing to bet that at least one if not both of those will be gone within a decade, what with Elephant/Heygate redevelopment.

one is already gone, there is a planning enquiry going on about some new block of flats (not the heygate project, across the road by the new flats).

 

[prunus]

There's still one on Milkwood Road, at the Coldharbour Lane End.

 

[twistedAM]

I use either the Shell on Croxted Rd nr Brockwell Park or the BP on the south Circular in Tulse Hill (I know the Tesco/Texaco on Tulse Hill is closer but I hate giving Tesco any support)

Is the jet at the nr the junction of the South Circ and Brixton Hill still open or has Tescrap taken that over?

 

[T & P]

I use either the Shell on Croxted Rd nr Brockwell Park or the BP on the south Circular in Tulse Hill (I know the Tesco/Texaco on Tulse Hill is closer but I hate giving Tesco any support)

Is the jet at the nr the junction of the South Circ and Brixton Hill still open or has Tescrap taken that over?

The BP on the South Circular by Tulse Hill (near the railway bridge) was razed to the ground about two or three weeks ago.

I haven't driven past since so for all I know it was just being rebuilt, but I reckon they're just getting rid of it.

The Jet on the South Circular (next to the McDonalds) closed about a year ago. For a while the site was used as a car wash service but it is just blocked off.