STOP! Press Release 21-08-09

The STOP! Alliance is disappointed but not at all surprised that the TVBC Planning Officer's Report on the Goodman/Tesco application for the Airfield is recommending approval of the plan. That recommendation flies in the face of significant local opposition including 19 Parish Councils, over 5000 signatories to the STOP petition, 2300 letters from private individuals, local and national bodies such as the Andover Chamber of Commerce, The Road Safety Council, CPRE, Hampshire Wildlife Trust, Andover Youth Forum plus Andover's MP,an MEP and 3 local County Councillors. This compares with just 12 letters to TVBC in support of the application. 

"The application would not have got this far if TVBC had not been minded from the start to recommend approval," says Rhonda Smith Chair of STOP!. "Experts have judged the application 'sub-standard' and other Councils would have thrown it out at the start. But TVBC did not throw it out and what has happened over the last 18 months is that revised documents - 'sticking plasters' - have been added to the application documentation as more and more shortcomings, inconsistencies and inaccuracies have been uncovered. Despite these attempts at plugging the gaps, however, the application remains flawed.

The plan for a 24 hour 7 days a week operating megashed distribution centre is over-sized and out of place and contravenes Local Plan policies. It will be a blight on all our lives, our travelling and a blot on the landscape .

STOP! urges the Councillors due to decide on this application on 1st September to say 'STOP!' to the megashed plan and 'GO!' to the mixed use Business Park promised in the Local Plan and called for in the Andover Vision.