CAMPAIGNERS have vowed to continue their fight to stop a petrol station extending its opening hours.

Council planners refused to allow Grange Service Station to open between 7am and 10pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

However, the business owners, Rontec Watford, has appealed against the decision and called on the Secretary of State to intervene and overturn Darlington Borough Council’s refusal of planning permission.

The busy service station has been operating on the site since 1990 and has made several application to amend opening times and alcohol licences.

Councillor Heather Scott, ward member for Park West, which includes the Grange Road Service Station, said she would continue to fight against the applications.

She said: “I opposed this application the first time and I intend to write to the Planning Inspectorate to oppose the plans again. The opening hours have been extended before and this is just too much for residents who live in the area.”

In January 2015, more than 38 people wrote letters against an application amend opening hours on the site and Durham Police also made representations with concerns about a potential increase in crime and disorder and possible harm to young people.

The police representative raised concerns about the levels of staffing at the site, particularly the suggestion that one member of staff was sufficient to monitor the site and prevent thefts or crime.

For that application, representatives for Rontec made a number of statements to the licensing committee and committed to installing additional CCTV to cover all areas of the site, ensuring sufficient levels of staff were in place and operating a Challenge 25 policy to prevent children buying alcohol.

Despite the objections, the council granted that application which enabled the business to sell alcohol from the premises between 7am and 10pm, Monday to Saturday and 8am to 8pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Anyone wanting to write a letter of objection or support should send it to The Planning Inspectorate, 3/N KITE WING, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6PN.

All submissions need to be made before Monday, July 10 and the result will be published on the .gov.uk website.