THE new Creekmoor Service Station, which has been under construction at the gateway to Poole since earlier this year, is finally set to open next week.

Work has been taking place at the Marshes End site, off Safety Drive, since May. The Shell Petrol Station, with a Budgens Convenience Store and Subway will be operated by Peregrine Retail Ltd, a subsidiary of Motor Fuel Group.

It is scheduled to open on the morning of Thursday, November 21.

More than five years before the service station started to take shape, the plot – which was used as unlicensed landfill in the mid 1970s – had been earmarked as a potential travellers’ transit camp.

In 2014 there were angry scenes at Poole Civic Centre as around 200 people attempted to access an emergency Borough of Poole (BOP) meeting, which ended with the council backing proposals for two controversial traveller transit sites.

However, weeks later when the proposals went before BOP’s planning committee, the entire scheme, including the Marshes End site where the Creekmoor Service Station stands today, was thrown out. Creekmoor Cllr Judy Butt, who campaigned against the transit site at Marshes End back in 2014, had worked for years to get the land, which is classed as contaminated, redeveloped.

Yesterday she told the Daily Echo: “I am absolutely delighted that we have been able to use this piece of contaminated land, which has a troubled history.

“This is a really good outcome. The owners have developed something really special for the local community.

“There are some lovely extras like the bespoke cycle path from Upton, the Budgens, a cafe, an accessible toilet. It is a nice local hub.

“It is the perfect place for businesses to meet. We haven’t had a bespoke service station built for decades.

“Its been a long journey but to have this amazing outcome is great.”

The service station access will be accessed via the Holes Bay North roundabout next to Poole Fire Station, on the A35.

BOP used to own the land, but it was sold to Forelle Estates, who made the planning application for the service station.

A design and access statement prepared by Bayliss Design on behalf of Forelle Estates Limited during the planning process outlined: “The petrol filling station aims to exhibit a high standard of design while respecting the character of the surrounding area.

“The proposed design aims to achieve this with a striking design with suitable massing for the site and will use high quality materials in its build.

“The design incorporates a large glazed shopfront facing the forecourt and parking areas and will be visual from the road contributing to the appearance of the area and customers to the site.

“All fuel grades will be provided at each dispensing point.”