A village bought an abandoned petrol station and renovated it for £320,000 to prevent fuel shortages. The family now saves £1,000 a year. Newcastleton Scottish Bordersis the closest village to the British border and has been without a fuel station for ten years. Most of the inhabitants were self-employed or farmers and had to travel long distances to refuel. Up.
Trade was suffering in a village where at one point she had two fuel stations, until talks began about reopening one in 2015. The fuel station is currently processing 21,000 liters per week and 400,000-500,000 liters per year.
£320,000 of unexpected funding, including funds from the National Lottery paid for the refurbishment of the fuel station, including a new forecourt and fuel tanks. Community council chairman Greg Cuthbert, 58, said many families have three or four of his cars.
He said that there are only about four buses a day through the village, so the elderly are dependent on cars. All money is reinvested in the village and Gulf rents fuel stations provided they are properly staffed and kept clean.
Greg, a father of two, said:
"It costs a lot more to live in the country. We live in a beautiful place. Crime is rare here. Everyone is used to getting fuel in Carlisle or Horwich.
"If you have an elderly person, someone will bring the car and bring it back. They mainly use the car locally.
“In farming areas, people living in farming communities had to go into town to fill up jerrycans for their quad bikes.”
Greg, a grandpa of four who worked as a mobile hairdresser, said: The community here he has been for 250 years.
``It's definitely the way to go. We have a good relationship with our fuel supplier. I manage. It's the first time it's been done.
"It's run by a Gulf state, so there's no big risk." The last petrol station closed about 15 years ago, severely impacting the local economy.
We currently have 2 unleaded petrol pumps, 2 diesel pumps, electric car points, air and windshield wash.
Greg added: "We haven't sold fuel to him for ten years. Shopping in the village has decreased as people go to Carlisle to shop and fill up.
" , you can see the business is thriving. It was great for the village. It's a godsend.
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