A PETITION seeking to reinstate the minimum distance between motorway service stations has had no action taken on it.

Put forward by Basingstoke MP Maria Miller, to the government, the petition, which was signed by more than 3,000 came about amid concerns of two proposed motorway service stations on the M3 near Basingstoke.

Mrs Miller wanted the government to reinstate the minimum distance between services stations as applications for to build two new service stations off of the motorway - one at Hatch Warren and another at Black Dam have raised concerns among residents.

The Moto Hospitality-led Black Dam proposal which includes a 100-room hotel, a drive-thru Costa Coffee, petrol station and a shop, is with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council in the form of a planning application while the Hatch Warren proposal, being put together by Applegreen PLC has yet to reach the formal planning stage.

After the petition was presented to parliament on April 24, the government has now responded stating that decisions on new service areas are for the local planning authority, and that Highways England has been consulted on the planning application for the services at junction 6 of the M3.

The government also confirmed that there are no plans to reintroduce a minimum distance between service.

After this decision was made Mrs Miller said: “While it is disappointing that there are no plans to reinstate a minimum distance between service areas, the petition has highlighted the very significant levels of concern among local residents to the two proposed service areas.

“I have already discussed these proposals with Highways England, raising residents’ concerns about the congestion and risks to road safety. I will also be raising concerns about the environmental harm they would cause when I next meet Thames Water and the Environment Agency.”

A decision will be made on the Black Dam proposal by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s development control committee.