A PETROL and diesel price war is set to break out in Highbridge and Burnham this winter when Asda opens a new fuel station.

Work has begun on the eight pump facility at the Highbridge superstore site with workmen clearing the smaller of the two car parks in readiness for major groundwork.

A spokesman for Asda said they were pleased the project to construct the fuel station was finally underway and they would be offering low cost petrol to their customers when it opened in November. It implies that a fuel price war will break out as the retail giant takes on the area’s independent petrol station for their custom.

Currently the price of diesel locally is low with the cost per litre at the time of going to press at Brent Knoll on the A38 was 108.9p for diesel and 111.9 for unleaded. In Burnham and in Highbridge the Esso stations were selling fuel at 113.9p for unleaded and 108.9 for diesel. Asda are currently selling fuel at their Weston-super-Mare store at 109.7p for unleaded and 106.7p for diesel.

Customers at Asda this week voiced their approval of the development with one woman saying it would make it more convenient for her family as they did their weekly shop at the store and wouldn’t have to got elsewhere for fuel. Another customer said fuel was still too expensive and that “the Government took too much in tax”.

Other shoppers also said it was good news and would use the store’s fuel station once it opened. However one dissenting voice pointed out the store was “not much cheaper” than local petrol stations in the town.

It was back in 2013 that Asda was given the green light for the development by Sedgemoor District Planners following a battle with local residents and objections from Somerset County Highways Division. Locals were concerned about noise and extra traffic using the site, plus increased pollution and smells associated with petrol stations. Somerset County highways requested a pedestrian crossing to be included in the plans to address safety concerns at the site entrance.

Despite the town council contesting the need for the facility Sedgemoor gave the go-ahead by eight votes to five.

Asda’s spokesman said they were looking forward to increasing competition among local petrol stations.