Filling station not closing

THE operators of Saddleworth’s last petrol station have hit out at plans to demolish the business and replace it with a property development.

An application to Oldham Council wants to demolish Scouthead Filling Station in Huddersfield Road and build nine homes and a shop.

The site owner’s agent suggested in the application that the filling station is “unprofitable” because “petrol sales have declined in recent years.”

But Jamal Qureshi, who has rented the business since March 2013, says the filling station is profitable and makes money.

“The agents are trying to make it seem like we are going out of business and will close at any point.

“But that is not the case,” said Mr Qureshi. “We are not making millions of pounds here but we are profitable. We are providing a community service.”

He said he was told of the redevelopment plans in a letter from the council.

Mr Qureshi holds a lease for another year and says the owner has suggested this could be extended, subject to negotiation: “We want our customers to know we have no plans to close the petrol station.”