BP SHELL is fighting East Hampshire District CouncilÕs decision to refuse permission for groceries to be sold at its new Petersfield petrol station next to McDonalds.
BP wanted the council to vary the planning conditions which restricted the type of goods sold in the shop.
The company wanted to sell more groceries, cold drinks and household goods at the petrol station and turn it into more of a community shop.
But East Hampshire district councillors threw out the plan because councillors did not want the filling station shop to become a general retail outlet in the rural area.
Petersfield town councillors had earlier voted to object to BPÕs plan despite a plea from John Crowhurst, who said he believed a grocery shop would be a valuable community facility for people around QueenÕs and PrinceÕs roads and also to the residents of Stroud.
BP has now appealed to a government planning inspector to overturn the decision.
The appeal is to be dealt with by way of written representations.