Councillors have blocked plans for the expansion of a dealership due to safety concerns.

Group Fordthorne had applied to convert a former warehouse near its base in Penarth Road into sales and servicing centre for Transit vans, reports Wales Online.

The site has been empty since the previous occupants relocated.

But councillors on the Vale of Glamorgan’s planning committee said concerns the premises had nowhere dedicated for large vehicle transporter lorries to park – which would mean they would instead have to park on public roads – meant the application should be turned down.

Outlining the reasons for the refusal, council planners said: “The proposed use would not be served by parking for a vehicle transporter, leading to vehicle transporters servicing the site having to park on the public highway which is considered to be prejudicial to the safety and free flow of traffic along the highway.”

But a statement submitted last November on behalf of Fordthorne as part of the application said community safety would not be affected by the proposals.

It said: “The movement to the site is from the existing main road and the nature of the activities means that vehicular movements are the predominant mode of transport to and from the site.

“There is adequate onsite parking and along the access road that is not a through road.”

And a council report said the plans “would have economic benefits as it would bring a vacant warehouse into economic use with employment”.

After concerns were raised by the council’s highways team about the lack of space at the site for a transporter it was suggested a condition should be put in place specifically to prevent the business using transporters.

But that was judged to be too difficult to enforce – and even if Fordthorne did not use transporters giving permission for the site could lead to the lorries being used there by any future occupants.