A PETROL station's new owner has begun work to bring an off-licence and convenience store to the site.

The pumps have been ripped out and the paving churned up at the landmark BP garage in St Cross, Winchester, after some residents in the area raised concerns about the effect the proposed Londis store would have on their neighbourhood.

JP&S Services, which was bought from BP by "forecourt emporer" Visvanathan Yoganathan, has put up a sign saying "Site closed for redevelopment, re-opening soon, sorry for the inconvenience".

The garage is expected to be up and running again by late September.

READ MORE: New Londis at BP garage in Winchester prompts protests

The sign put up by site owners JP&S Services (Image: Sebastian Haw)

While some residents think the sale of alcohol would exacerbate issues in the area, others believe the new shop will bring a convenient variety of vital items within walking distance in the St Cross area.

One St Cross woman told the Chronicle: "Naturally the residents of St Cross Road are not too happy with this news which has been carefully kept under wraps. We would have preferred an M&S or quality outlet. We fought against alcohol sales at the garage some years ago, which is maybe why the news of the sale has been so carefully concealed."

Another resident, Takita Blinden, 32, said: "I don’t think it would be good. A lot of riff-raff live in the building, a lot of drinkers and drug abusers. I wouldn’t say it’s a positive thing."

But not all residents shared these fears.

Jonathan Talbot-Weiss, who lives opposite the garage, said: "I don’t have a problem with it. I think if they do basic groceries it would be fantastic – there are a lot of people who would be able to walk to the store instead of driving."

READ MORE: Filling station alcohol plan approved

Back in 2009, a bid by BP to sell alcohol at the garage fuelled a massive protest by St Cross residents, who feared it would attract drunkenness and vandalism.

Police and environmental health bodies also formally objected to the plans, which were eventually scrapped.

This time, however, there has been nowhere near as much resistance to the proposed convenience store, possibly because JP&S has not yet made public the details of its plans to sell alcohol, including the shop's opening hours.

The Chronicle approached JP&S for these details but received no reply.