A GARAGE has been refused permission to open 24 hours a day for the fourth time.

The owners of the Beck Valley Service Station, in Wolviston Road, Billingham, had applied for the opening hours after similar applications in 1997 and 1998.

The owners commissioned a report which claimed there was evidence to show that there would not be excessive noise if the garage was open all night.

They proposed to erect a night-time barrier in Station Road so vehicles could only use Wolviston Road to get to the garage.

The proposal had been for a one-year trial period for the 24-hour opening, to test the impact on residents, who had continually objected to the idea.

However, Stockton Borough Council's environment services department recommended the application be refused because of noise and disturbance to residents.

The department was also worried that due to the shop being open 24 hours, the service station could become a drop-off point for taxis, and an area where people congregate before dispersing.

The council decided that the concessions offered by the garage's owners would not do enough to maintain the peace.