A YORK councillor has spoken of his concern about plans to demolish a Fulford petrol station and turn it into a three-storey block of flats.

Ward councillor Keith Aspden said residents were worried about the future of the petrol station in Main Street in Fulford village.

He said two planning applications had been submitted to City of York Council to demolish the station, which was still trading, and build a three-storey block of 23 apartments.

But Charles Church Developments, the building firm that plans to transform the site, argued its proposals would be a "marked improvement" on what already existed.

Coun Aspden said: "I understand that the council has no power over the business side of the petrol station and I would not like to see another derelict site like the Gimcrack, but what is very significant to local residents are the plans for a three-storey block of apartments in replacement.

"Nearby residents in Main Street, Eliot Court and Fulford Ings Flats are scared that they will be overshadowed, and most importantly many people feel that the current plans are not suitable or consistent with the conservation area in Fulford."

Coun Aspden also had concerns over the size and nature of the developments compared with similar schemes constructed in the village.

He said: "Other developments in the area, St Oswald's Court and Eliot Court, were both restricted to two storeys."

But Ian Ruthven, Yorkshire area director for Charles Church, said: "We have worked with an experienced local architect and the planning authority to propose a sympathetic and varied scheme in keeping with its surroundings.

"Charles Church firmly believes that the proposed redevelopment of the Murco filling station will, in fact,U greatly enhance the location and will be a marked improvement on the facility currently occupying the site."

Last month, the Evening Press reported how there had been an explosion in flat developments in recent years in the city, with industry experts predicting the numbers were likely to grow.

Updated: 08:19 Monday, September 15, 2003