1,000 independent garages "could be wiped out" – PRA
"Up to one thousand independent forecourt sites will be wiped out by new supermarket forecourts by 2017 unless the Government takes action" said Brian Madderson Petrol Retailers' Association (PRA) Chairman.
The PRA report commissioned from Christie & Co looked at the planning applications for new petrol filling stations between 2009 and the third quarter of 2012. It found that an average of 40 supermarket forecourts were being granted permission each year, and Steve Rodell, director and head of Retail at Christie & Co said: "If applications continue at the same rate, and there is no reason to believe that will not be the case, there will be another 160 supermarket sites by the end of 2016.