EU law regarding petrol stations

Daegerty

In around 1995 I remember there was some talk of a EU law and around that time a lot of small roadside petrol stations closed. I had always assumed they had been banned and now the only format allowed was the in from the road type with a canopy.

I do remember something about the canopy being mandatory because my uncle used to drive an artic at the time and had fierce trouble with the canopies at the time because the artic wouldn't fit under a lot of them and no separate diesel pump outside it.

But I know there are a few petrol stations around with no canopy, even one quite near me. Recently I also spotted one of the old school old style side of the pavement petrol stations with just 2 pumps and no canopy. I prefer these because they look much more discrete compared to the big ugly yoke of a canopy.

Anyone here know what exactly happened, and could you still open a petrol station today beside the road with no canopy or is the practice illegal or otherwise made difficult for people?

Cuddlesworth

Daegerty wrote: »

In around 1995 I remember there was some talk of a EU law and around that time a lot of small roadside petrol stations closed. I had always assumed they had been banned and now the only format allowed was the in from the road type with a canopy.

I would have said that they were closed because they failed to meet basic safety requirements. Nothing to do with a canopy.

slimjimmc

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

I would have said that they were closed because they failed to meet basic safety requirements. Nothing to do with a canopy.

and basic environmental standards would be a big factor too. There are still plenty of filling stations with uncovered high rate DERV pumps for trucks off to one side of the yard.

Nothing to do with the canopy, it was storage I think. The canopy is very handy when its raining obviously.