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Chiverton Cross: Difference between revisions

m Expansion Plans: new roundabout has Services signs
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Chiverton Cross was a crossroads positioned where the smaller of the two modern roundabouts is. There was a large car repairs garage on the corner, which is now the used car dealership. This was later joined by a [[Shell]] forecourt, known as '''Three Burrows services'''.
Chiverton Cross was a crossroads positioned where the smaller of the two modern roundabouts is. There was a large car repairs garage on the corner, which is now the used car dealership. This was later joined by a [[Shell]] forecourt, known as '''Three Burrows services'''.


Other facilities arrived after the roundabout was built in the late 1980s, with the '''Chiverton Cross''' branch of {{Little Chef|Chiverton Cross}} opening here in October 1988. This joined a second forecourt that had opened in July (see below).
Other facilities arrived after the roundabout was built in 1988, with the '''Chiverton Cross''' branch of {{Little Chef|Chiverton Cross}} opening here that October. This Little Chef gained an extension in 1998, housing a new [[Burger King]] restaurant. These both traded until winter 2007, when they were deemed unprofitable and closed. The building has since become a [[Starbucks]] store.
 
The Little Chef gained an extension in 1998 to house a new [[Burger King]] restaurant. These both traded until Winter 2007 when they were deemed unprofitable and closed. The building has since become a [[Starbucks]] store.


===Seeing Double===
===Seeing Double===
In April 1988, owner of the Truro-based A J Autos, Tony Paddock relocated his car sales business into the car repairs garage here. As part of the purchase of the garage, he also gained two houses next to the garage and the land they sat on. Shortly after this, in July 1988, the new Blackwater bypass opened and Tony saw this as a perfect opportunity to demolish the two houses and build a second forecourt directly next to the existing Shell forecourt. The forecourt was granted permission, much to his surprise, and was officially opened as an [[Esso]] forecourt with a Snack & Shop store at 8pm on 28 July 1989.
With the Blackwater Bypass under construction, in April 1988, the Truro-based A J Autos moved their car sales business into the car repairs garage here. The purchase included the two houses next door, and the surrounding land. The houses were demolished and a second forecourt was built directly next to the existing Shell forecourt. This one was branded [[Esso]] with a Snack & Shop store, and opened on 28 July 1989, with even the owner being slightly surprised to receive planning permission.


Three Burrows became a Elf forecourt in the 1990s before rebranding to [[Total]] in 2003, following the merger of Elf with TotalFina. The shop went on to be branded Premier. Three Burrows was then re-branded Esso in 2011, creating the unusual situation where two seemingly identical petrol stations trade side-by-side. In the same year, Chiverton Cross was removed from Ordnance Survey maps where it had been listed as a full service area.
Three Burrows became an Elf forecourt in the 1990s, before rebranding to [[Total]] in 2003, following the merger of Elf and TotalFina. The shop went on to be branded Premier. Three Burrows was then re-branded Esso in 2011, creating the unusual situation where two seemingly identical petrol stations traded side-by-side. In the same year, Chiverton Cross was removed from Ordnance Survey maps where it had been listed as a full service area.


Both forecourts were acquired by [[MRH]] in 2012. These were transferred to [[MFG]] in 2018, following the merger of the two companies, who closed the Three Burrows forecourt in 2020 in favour of Chiverton Cross being closer to the road. For a while after its closure, the car was at Three Burrows was still accessible.
Both forecourts were acquired by [[MRH]] in 2012, and transferred to [[MFG]] in 2018. MFG closed the Three Burrows forecourt in 2020, preferring Chiverton Cross, which was closer to the road. For a while after its closure, the car wash at Three Burrows was still accessible.


===Expansion Plans===
===Expansion Plans===

Revision as of 19:43, 10 July 2023

Location:

A30 at Chiverton Cross
(also accessible to traffic on the A390 and the A3075)

Signposted from the road.

Postcode:

TR4 8HS

map and directions

Access/Layout:

Single site located at a junction.


This service area used to be a strange example of two adjacent petrol stations, named Chiverton Cross and Three Burrows.

Facilities

Catering: Starbucks Outdoor Space: Grass verge around coffee shop; public footpath connections Forecourt: Esso, Londis, Costa Express

Parking Prices

Short stay customer parking is available for cars at both facilities, with parking in the Starbucks car park limited to 3 hours maximum stay during store opening hours only. These restrictions are strictly enforced by Parking Eye.

No HGV parking is available.

This information is provided to us by third parties. You should always check with staff on site.

Contact Details

🏢 Address:
Chiverton Cross
Blackwater
Truro
Cornwall
TR4 8HS


Trivia and History

Two Esso petrol stations next to each other.
The two forecourts, trading next door to each other, pictured in 2021.

Chiverton Cross was a crossroads positioned where the smaller of the two modern roundabouts is. There was a large car repairs garage on the corner, which is now the used car dealership. This was later joined by a Shell forecourt, known as Three Burrows services.

Other facilities arrived after the roundabout was built in 1988, with the Chiverton Cross branch of Little ChefHistory opening here that October. This Little Chef gained an extension in 1998, housing a new Burger King restaurant. These both traded until winter 2007, when they were deemed unprofitable and closed. The building has since become a Starbucks store.

Seeing Double

With the Blackwater Bypass under construction, in April 1988, the Truro-based A J Autos moved their car sales business into the car repairs garage here. The purchase included the two houses next door, and the surrounding land. The houses were demolished and a second forecourt was built directly next to the existing Shell forecourt. This one was branded Esso with a Snack & Shop store, and opened on 28 July 1989, with even the owner being slightly surprised to receive planning permission.

Three Burrows became an Elf forecourt in the 1990s, before rebranding to Total in 2003, following the merger of Elf and TotalFina. The shop went on to be branded Premier. Three Burrows was then re-branded Esso in 2011, creating the unusual situation where two seemingly identical petrol stations traded side-by-side. In the same year, Chiverton Cross was removed from Ordnance Survey maps where it had been listed as a full service area.

Both forecourts were acquired by MRH in 2012, and transferred to MFG in 2018. MFG closed the Three Burrows forecourt in 2020, preferring Chiverton Cross, which was closer to the road. For a while after its closure, the car wash at Three Burrows was still accessible.

Expansion Plans

A shop building with a sign saying Rowe's Cornish Bakers, pasties, savouries, sandwiches, coffee & tea.
The new Rowe's Cornish Bakers.

Several plans to significantly expand facilities around this area have been proposed over the years.

There were plans to add a picnic area and drive-thru restaurant to the Three Burrows site in 1998, but this never happened.

Another plan was granted permission in 2013 which would have seen the car sales showroom demolished and a 67-bed hotel with restaurant built in its place, but this wasn't carried forward. A subsequent plan would have seen the car sales showroom turned in to a restaurant with the rear of the building maintained as workshop garages. Eventually a Rowe's Cornish Bakers store was added in 2019.

A separate plan for a hotel and restaurant to be built on the north-western arm of the original roundabout was granted planning permission in 2016, which was renewed later.

Meanwhile, Cornwall Council granted planning permission for both filling stations to be demolished and replaced with one single, larger petrol station in 2018. Further proposals for a hotel and restaurant development adjacent to the current filling stations was granted in August 2019.

As part of the project to upgrade the A30 in the area to dual carriageway, the Chiverton Cross Roundabout was removed in June 2023. Access to the service area will now be provided via the new Chiverton Junction, approximately half a mile down the B3277. The service area continues to be signed from the new junction, but it's not yet clear whether advance warning will still be provided on the A30 itself, or whether the diversion will impact trade.

Alternatives

Previous:Next:
Carland Cross (8 miles)Services on the A30Hayle (12 miles)