A community has been left without a petrol station after its only forecourt permanently closed ahead of a redevelopment of the site.

The Esso Rontec garage and neighbouring Regency House in Watling Street in Radlett will be demolished and replaced by a new office building.

Hertsmere Borough Council granted permission in October 2018 for a building of up to four storeys primarily for office space as well as community use on the ground floor, along with two levels of basement parking.

The application by TLC Radlett Ltd received 85 objections and some members of the planning committee also had concerns about the size of the proposed building.

A CGI of the office building that will be constructed

But after plans were approved around three-and-a-half years ago, the closure of the petrol station has been inevitable, even though there has been a switch to home-working thanks to the pandemic.

It leaves Radlett without a petrol station. Motorists will now have to travel to the likes of Borehamwood, London Colney, Bushey, Watford, or Frogmore for their fuel, with the forecourt shutting for good within the last week or so.