Tiff Needell fights plans to renovate England’s oldest petrol station

Former Top Gear host Tiff Needell is participating in a marketing campaign to cease England’s oldest petrol station from being was a home by a married couple. 

The 72-year-old, who offered the BBC automobile present within the Nineteen Eighties and 90s, has hit out at plans to renovate the Grade II-listed website within the Golden Valley in Herefordshire as he thinks it will ‘wreck this tiny a part of historical past’. 

He claimed the constructing’s historic options, which embrace two outdated petrol pumps outdoors, would ‘change into only a token quite than residing historical past’ and stated it needs to be was a museum as an alternative. 

Mike Clark, 63, a software program engineer, and his spouse purchased the Glendore petrol station, which dates again to again to 1919, in February final 12 months as a retirement residence. 

They have spent £60,000 on surveying the property and have utilized for planning permission with the native council, with a call anticipated over the subsequent week. 

Former Top Gear host Tiff Needell (pictured) is participating in a marketing campaign to cease England’s oldest petrol station from being was a home by a married couple

The 72-year-old, who offered the BBC automobile present within the Nineteen Eighties and 90s, has hit out at plans to renovate the Grade II-listed website (picured) within the Golden Valley in Herefordshire

He claimed the constructing’s historic options, which embrace two outdated petrol pumps outdoors, would ‘change into only a token quite than residing historical past’

Mr Needell instructed The Telegraph: ‘We must attempt to hold issues as they have been so individuals can stroll previous them to absorb that feeling of “wow this is what it was like then”, and it may be a spot for fanatics to drive by and learn about.

‘To stroll via these histories is only a fantastic feeling. And it simply appears pointless to wreck this tiny a part of historical past.

‘It is the proper slot, if I used to be making a movie now I might get the automobile to go previous the storage to re-enact the way it was. Just don’t taint it when you should purchase a home elsewhere.’

Mr Needell wrote a letter to Herefordshire council urging them to show it right into a museum. He wrote: ‘It needs to be a museum. Where’s the creativeness? Not a house please. Madness.’

Mr Clark has stated he would hold the petrol pumps outdoors and stated he wouldn’t be hostile to individuals taking footage with them outdoors.

He instructed The Telegraph: ‘It is sort of unusual actually, we’re not anti individuals coming and taking images of the pumps with their vehicles, and we’re going to hold the pumps.

‘There have been some indicators on the constructing that have been taken off earlier than we purchased it, which we now have in storage which is able to return up.

The petrol station was final utilized in 2010 and has been deserted ever since

There are two petrol pumps within the entrance backyard of the property, both facet of the substantial arched hedge 

There are nonetheless a number of promoting indicators on the entrance of the brick cottage 

Outside, within the backyard on the rear of the property, there’s additionally a former pigsty with a log retailer, in addition to a storeroom

‘We have spent all our accessible time engaged on the property to clear the garbage and restore the partitions and home windows, together with sourcing vintage “wobbly” glass, a labour of affection.

‘We plan to maintain the petrol pumps and reinstate the enamel indicators – that is all coated within the planning paperwork.’

Mr Clark stays adament that he has the assist of native individuals and took goal at individuals campaigning towards the plans, saying: ‘generally individuals simply need the chance to place themselves on the market and exhibit’.

The petrol station was final utilized in 2010 and has been deserted ever since. 

It was based by H James Charles Wilding and brought over by his sons Hedley and Percy.

Hedley continued to run the enterprise into his nineties and his son then continued the enterprise till extra not too long ago.

There are two petrol pumps within the entrance backyard of the property, both facet of the substantial arched hedge. 

One is a Wayne and different is an Avery-Hardoll, in all probability relationship from the Nineteen Fifties and Thirties respectively.

Outside, within the backyard on the rear of the property, there’s additionally a former pigsty with a log retailer, in addition to a storeroom 

The former petrol station sits within the coronary heart of the village of Turnastone and in addition beforehand included the village store, with the Walls Ice Cream worth listing of 1985 nonetheless on the backyard wall.