The planning authority board yesterday gave the green light to a proposal to relocate a petrol station in Birkirkara Road, St Julians, to a parking area across the road.

When the outline development application was first brought before the board in September, the members said they wanted to carry out an on-site inspection before making up their minds on the matter.

They had said that although the proposal would mean moving the petrol station to a better place, they still wanted to see the site for themselves.

The board yesterday noted the petrol station had for years been a hazard and inconvenience to residents living in the vicinity and for traffic driving up to San Ġwann.

The application was submitted by Emmanuel Falzon on behalf of Joem Service Station.

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority’s case officer had originally recommended refusal but, following changes to the original plans, he yesterday recommended approval. He said the use of the land as a petrol station was considered acceptable in principle because the proposal entailed relocating the kerb-side petrol station to a better place.

The new petrol station can only be used for fuelling purposes, cannot exceed one storey on a restricted footprint, can only be accessed by traffic from the southern end and the applicant will have to get approval for the decommissioning of the existing fuel station.