A proposed new filling station on the corner of the R50 and Van der Walt Street in Delmas has some residents hot under the collar.

According to the publicised basic draft assessment for this proposed establishment, the filling station will be erected on portion zero of stands 281, 282 and 283 with a total size of 0.504ha on Huyser Street, a residential area in Ext 2, Delmas.

The appointed consultant, Science Environ Solutions, stated the draft assessment’s purpose is to notify potential stakeholders of the proposed filling station.

The project details in the draft assessment indicate it will be a fill-and-go petrol station for heavy vehicles and motor vehicles, with convenience stores, filling facilities for heavy- and motor vehicles, a parking area, change rooms, a security room, an ablution block, firefighting equipment and temporary waste storage facilities.

All of this, in practical terms, means the structures or houses on 83 and 85 Huyser Street will be demolished to make way for the proposed fuel station.

The assessment further states the proposed new filling station will have stormwater management systems, oil and water separation sumps and containment equipment.

It will also have underground and aboveground diesel and petrol storage tanks with a total volume of 494 000l. However, according to information, opposite these two stands, next to them, and the rest of Huyser Street residential properties will remain intact.

Close-by resident Roslyn Daniels told Streeknews she and her husband most definitely object to erecting a filling station in a residential area.

“Imagine the noise with the convenience store during the evenings and the added noise of vehicles and trucks getting in and out, said Daniels.

“My husband already sent an e-mail in which he clearly stated he is not in favour of such a development.”

Jo Meintjes said she had heard about the proposed filling station but was unaware it had been advertised in the media for public comment, adding whoever is behind this has not taken into consideration any of the nearby residents.

“The R50/R42 traffic light is already a dangerous crossing. I cannot see how more traffic will be tolerated,” Meintjes said.

“We only recently got rid of the mine dust and noise during the rebuilding of the R50, and now the noise and dust will probably start all over again.”

Meintjes also said there were many fuel stations geared to take in trucks, and she could not see the need to build another one in a residential neighbourhood adjacent to residential properties.

“We are particularly concerned about the fuel and diesel tanks, specifically the danger thereof in a residential area and the traffic congestion at the traffic light on the R50/R42 intersection.”

Delmas resident Ansa Oosthuizen, however, reckons people should stop their negativity once and for all.

“Think about the amount of heavy vehicles not entering the town of Delmas and how it would save our town’s roads,” Oosthuizen said.

The Streeknews spoke to one of the filling station’s developers, Harm Schreurs, about some of the Delmas citizens’ concerns.

According to Schreurs, the planned filling station is specifically designed to discourage drivers of heavy vehicles from filling at the station.

“We noted some of the objections to the planned filling station, but we designed the ‘landing’ so that it is unfriendly for heavy vehicles to use the pumps.”

Schreurs said the filling station would attract drive-by motorists, which would be good for Delmas and its economy.

“Instead of just driving by, motorists will stop to fill up, have a bite to eat, and actually take notice of the town of Delmas. I foresee positive economic growth with the proposed filling station and less traffic through town as residents from nearby residential areas like Ext 4 and Delpark will fill at the new station instead of having to drive through town.”

According to Schreurs, he has opened four Engen stations, like the proposed one on the R50, in the Midrand area.

“I can promise residents the property will be well-maintained, with lush gardens. We also intend to employ about 45 people at the station, which will create jobs and economic growth in Delmas.”

Schreurs also confirmed there would be a Woolworths Foods on the premises.

“We are also in discussions with other franchised fast food restaurants and hope to soon announce which one will be established on the premises.”

Schreurs said there was even a possibility that one of the existing fast-food restaurants in Delmas could move to the new premises. No clear answer was received when asked about traffic control at the busy intersection on the corner of the R50, the R42 and Van der Walt Street.

Schreurs undertook to provide more information and visual material about similar existing developments, but at the time of going to press, the Streeknews had not yet received it. The Streeknews also learnt confidentially the proposed filling station negotiations are at an advanced stage. Happy or unhappy about the latest development, ​​it seems to be a reality, happening sooner rather than later.

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