Petrol Station question

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Is it me or are petrol stations closing down left, right and centre? I can think of four near-ish my house, off the top of my head. Do the petrol companies make so little money on them that they hate keeping them open? Old petrol station forecourts and flat roof structures are a bit of an eyesore, but have you ever seen any put to interesting use? What could they be used for? Are there any beautiful petrol stations (S/D)?

― Daniel Giraffe (Daniel Giraffe), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 07:38 (nineteen years ago)

A lot of urban ones are being replaced by urban loft style living spaces (crap flats).

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 07:42 (nineteen years ago)

Do they integrate the old buildings into the design?

― Daniel Giraffe (Daniel Giraffe), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 07:56 (nineteen years ago)

There are hardly any round here now - but the sites aren't being redeveloped. Several have been replaced by hand-wash carwashes - the rest are just derelict.

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 07:59 (nineteen years ago)

Undercut by supermarkets, like pretty much every other business. There's a closed-down one on the dual carriageway into Swansea that has been shut for about 10 years, but still has its sign up with the prices on. I often wonder how many accidents are caused by people swerving across the road when they see unleaded advertised at 75p a litre.

Pretty Scottish filling station:
http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_MY_P_S/0_my_photographs_scotland_petrol_pumps_-_shell.jpg

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 08:06 (nineteen years ago)

imagine the sites cost a lot to prepare because of all the below-ground rubbish

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 08:07 (nineteen years ago)

Yes - there's one near me that shut down after it was discovered that its storage tanks had been leaking for some years. The petrol company (Shell, I think) still hasn't agreed whether or not they will have to decontaminate the gardens of the surrounding homes.

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 08:11 (nineteen years ago)

I've always been curious about all those abandoned "independent" petrol stations on the Norfolk coast which were reportedly disguised KGB observation points.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 08:14 (nineteen years ago)

Petrol-related caption competition:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/05/in_pictures_buncefield_fuel_depot_blast/img/3.jpg

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 08:14 (nineteen years ago)

Hmmm, the contamination aspect, of course.

In London, there's a really nice one between Tottenham Court Road and Gower Street that's really quite picturesque and village-like.

― Daniel Giraffe (Daniel Giraffe), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 08:25 (nineteen years ago)

There was a rather nice modernist one in Edinburgh, on Causewayside, which was converted into an off-licence.

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 08:35 (nineteen years ago)

A lot of the petrol stations our way have an off-licence too. Remember folks, don't drink and drive, you'll only spill it.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 09:17 (nineteen years ago)

Yes lots here do - the one in Edinburgh was actually more of a wine-merchant type of off licence.

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 09:35 (nineteen years ago)

In my area, the reverse has been true. I've been seeing a few new ones pop up and only one or two close down. (One of them closed because it was a BP across the road from a bigger BP...)

― The Real Esteban Buttez (EstieButtez1), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 09:37 (nineteen years ago)

a petrol station closed down right by holloway road tube station, and has been cleverly converted into Emirates Stadium parking!

the one on Camden Road closed too, and is now a hand car-washing shop (which i thought would make LESS money than a petrol station, but what do i know)

marge simpson finally realises it's time to get a haircut
http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/05/in_pictures_buncefield_fuel_depot_blast/img/3.jpg

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 09:38 (nineteen years ago)

cleverly converted into Emirates Stadium parking

superb idea. Have they left the old pumps there?

― Daniel Giraffe (Daniel Giraffe), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 11:10 (nineteen years ago)

unfortunately no! nor have they set up a pie shop inside what was the shop bit.

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 12:29 (nineteen years ago)

Damn. I was hoping you would say it was somehow listed and that the club was obliged to sell heavy pastries, pot noodles, car air fresheners, world cup coins and sets of tumblers for 6.99.

― Daniel Giraffe (Daniel Giraffe), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 12:53 (nineteen years ago)

haha!

by the way this isn't an "official" empirates stadium parking.. it's more just kind of somebody bought the place (or maybe the actual people who owned it) put a fence around it and a hand painted sign that says "MATCH DAY PARKING £10" at the front!

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 12:59 (nineteen years ago)

kudos to ken's marge simpson gag :-)

― You've Got Scourage On Your Breath (Haberdager), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 13:07 (nineteen years ago)

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