Applegreen to create 20 jobs in Galway filling station

Site clearance work has begun on the site of the new Applegreen filling station on the Tuam Road, which is expected to open in the New Year.

It is believed that about 20 full and part-time jobs will be created by the new station, while the arrival of the chain to the market here is expected to fuel a price war.

Final permission was granted by Galway City Council for the development after two appeals to An Bord Pleanála were withdrawn.

Petrogas Limited – which operates more than 70 filling stations around the country under the Applegreen brand – has already started work on the site of the former Hanley’s Maxol filling station (beside the former Renault garage).

At the moment, Applegreen is selling some of the cheapest fuel in the Republic at 140.8c for a litre of diesel and 149.8c for petrol.

Currently in Galway City, diesel is retailing at 146.9c per litre on average and petrol is 155.9c per litre.

With an expected opening date in the New Year, their arrival to the local fuel market is expected to drive price competition.

Planners granted permission for a 24-hour filling service, although restrictions were imposed on what elements of trade can take place.

The plans involve the demolition of the existing workshop and the removal of underground fuel tanks, and the construction of a new 5,000 square foot single storey building with three food counters, retail area and toilets.

The plans also include a brush wash area and single storey carwash building, and three new 40,000 litre tanks to be placed underground.

Initial plans for a larger-scale premises were scaled back following the advice of the City Council.

There were objections to the application on the grounds that Applegreen’s primary business is retail and restaurant and that it would worsen traffic congestion on the Tuam Road.

It was also argued by objectors that the business would contravene residential zoning on the site, that it would detract from nearby residences, that it would be an “affront” to the objectives of the City Development Plan and that the adjacent car showroom would be “left in limbo”.

Those objectors subsequently appealed the Council’s grant of permission on the same grounds, but later withdrew their appeals.

Planners have ordered that while the fuel and convenience shop business can be 24-hour (operated through a hatch from midnight to 6am), there must be no food service after 11pm. The carwash can only operate from 7am to 10pm, while deliveries cannot be made outside of those hours.