The Liberal Democrats have launched a petition contesting plans to build another service station on Green Belt land.

Three Rivers councillor Phil Williams, who is heading the campaign, started the appeal in response to a proposal by Extra Motorway Services for a site between junction 16 and 17 of the M25.

The motorway service operators will host a public meeting and “engagement workshop” at Chalfont St Peter Community Centre from 9.45am, on October 23.

This latest proposal follows hard upon rekindled plans by rival company Moto to build a similar site at junction 20, Kings Langley.

Moto’s initial proposal includes a 100-bed hotel, a 1,000-space car park and shops and other facilities. A planning application is likely by the end of the year.

It is not yet known what Extra intend to build at the site near junction 17.

Extra Motorway Services chief executive officer Andrew Long will lead the public meeting on October 23 to discuss why the site was selected and “constraints and opportunities”.

The workshop will focus on how to raise awareness of the consultation in the wider community.

Cllr Williams told the Watford Observer Extra’s proposal is merely “exploratory” at this stage to determine whether the site is viable.

He added: “Following on from proposals for a service station at Junction 20, this is a further threat to Green Belt land, which would lead to an increase in traffic on local roads around the junctions.

“Three Rivers’ residents do not need either of these proposed service stations, which would lead not only to greater congestion, but also to higher levels of noise, light and air pollution in the area.

“And with the change in business rates coming in the future, South Bucks stand to reap the benefits with Three Rivers left to pick up the pieces.”

An Extra MSA Group spokesperson: “The proposals are currently at a very early stage and there is much work to be done before a design has been developed sufficiently to enable it to be shared with the local community and local stakeholders for comment.

"In parallel with the design work and in keeping with Extra’s philosophy of listening to local people, Extra will be meeting with a number of invited community representatives later this month to find out from them how, where and when the local community would like to be consulted. 

"Using this information, Extra will then organise a public consultation event at which they will share their initial design proposals with the wider community and listen to their views on how it could be shaped going forward.”

For more information about the petition, visit https://tinyurl.com/ServiceStations

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