A CAMPAIGN to highlight the decline in the number of petrol stations has won support from a fuel industry body.p>

David Norman, Labour councillor for Victoria ward, Southend, has been voicing concerns about a dramatic decline in filling stations in the town in recent times.

Now his views have been backed by Ray Holloway, director of the Petrol Retailers' Association.

Mr Holloway said the decline was part of a nationwide trend, with fewer than 9,500 filling stations now open for business - including those at supermarkets.

This is the lowest number since 1912 and Mr Holloway said the situation could become critical if decline continued.

He is urging councils to include the retention of essential services such as petrol stations in future development strategies.

He would also give to see business rates concessions for key urban garages.

"Motorists are now noticing gaps in fuel availability" he added. "If it gets worse, as expected, they will be inconvenienced when searching for a forecourt in some areas."

Mr Norman said Mr Holloway's national figures were "extremely worrying", especially in the light of the continued growth in the number of cars on the roads.

"As I understand it, in the past ten years, while many petrol stations have closed, there has been an increase of four million in the number of cars on the road," he added.

"Although I am a new member of the council's development control committee, I intend to find out exactly what powers we have over change-of-use applications and what controls are open to us on this sort of issue.

"Garages are just as much an important part of the infrastructure as the roads themselves."