A SCHEME to redevelop Pool-in-Wharfedale's petrol station has been approved by planners.

Some 28 objections, including from the Parish Council, were lodged against the proposals for the Shell filling station at Pool Bridge.

Objectors raised road safety concerns, worries about the impact on the Conservation Area and the knock-on effect on other local businesses.

Parish Councillors had also asked for Shell to contribute towards a feasibility study for a gyratory system and pedestrian crossing point at the site.

But last week's South and West Plans Panel agreed to allow the scheme - which had been slightly changed from its original incarnation - to proceed.

The work will see the garage's forecourt replaced, a new sales building and canopy created and a new tank and other underground equipment installed.

Councillor Barry Anderson (Con, Adel & Wharfedale) said: "This is disappointing from a Pool village perspective as the general highways concerns still exist and Leeds City Council's Highways Department needs to take more responsibility for the (traffic) problems.

"It probably isn’t the fault of the Shell filling station that the traffic problems are in existence but it doesn’t take away the fact that Leeds Highways should have come forward with some remediation plan - or they could have said that Highways would fund the proposed study around the area."