AN appeal against Darlington Council’s refusal to allow a petrol station to increase its opening hours has been dismissed.

Government Inspectorat Gary Deane upheld the council’s decision not to allow the Total service station on Grange Road to extend its opening hours to between 6am and midnight Monday to Saturday and 8am to 10pm on Sundays.

The station currently opens between 7am and 10pm Monday to Saturday and 8am to 8pm on Sundays due to a planning condition imposed when it was redeveloped in 1990.

Mr Deane said that the condition should remain to protect nearby residents from unacceptable noise associated with cars using the facility so late at night and early in the morning.