THE owners of a Gwent petrol station fear they will be forced out of business following the building of a house just yards from their forecourt As previously reported Alun Thomas and Gerwyn Evans, the owners of Service Park Station, Cefn Fforest, claim the footings of a house under construction, are less than two feet from their 3,000 gallon underground petrol tanks.

They fear the tanks could be damaged by digging work or that builders could ignite fumes with cigarettes or mobile phones.

A spokeswoman for the national Health and Safety Executive said officers will inspect the site to ensure the builders were not at risk.

She said: "The issue of how far the site is from the tanks is a matter for the local authority and petroleum licensing authority - our main concern is with the safety of those working on the site."

Mr Evans said: "I have already had one tanker refuse to unload because of the close proximity of the building site - others are bound to follow suit. "It's crazy this can happen. Our tanks are literally on the boundary line between our petrol station and the housing plot.

"Fumes could be ignited from a barbecue or a lit cigarette from the back garden of the house, and it doesn't bear thinking about if we take a delivery of petrol when there is a barbecue on. This is a disaster waiting to happen."

Mr Evans said he believed planners should have specified a minimum 12 metre exclusion limit under health and safety guidelines, but a spokeswoman for the Health and Safety Executive said this was not the case.

It's understood plans for a fire-wall between the development and the garage have now been included.

Mr Evans added: "My concern is that in 10 years time when I apply to renew my petrol tanks, I will be refused permission because of the close proximity of the house. That would put us out of business."

A spokesman for Caerphilly council said: "We are continuing to work with the developer and garage owners to ensure the best possible outcome."