|
|
|
Issued: Sunday 14th October 2007
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE says the
ST Campaigners urge all Andover residents to view the revised plans for the MEGAshed planned for Andover Airfield & demand a full exhibition
“It’s still a MEGAshed,” says Rhonda Smith, spokesperson for the STOP Campaign, “despite now having a green painted, moulded roof, being 1.1 meters lower and moved 10 metres north. The fact that Goodmans and Tesco’s have submitted revised plans, and not issued new plans, means that they have only ‘fiddled’ around the edges – and saved themselves £50,000 in the process.”
“At a recent meeting Goodmans & Tescos had a detailed breakdown of all anticipated vehicle movements for all phases of the development – juggernauts, deliveries in, support vehicles and staff cars - and we have asked to have a copy so that we can see what is in store for us all, first with the MEGAshed and then with the whole development,” continues Rhonda. “But to date that breakdown has not been received and neither is it included in the latest plans. We can only assume it contains even more bad news for Andover and the surrounding district.”
The figures that are included in the plans for the MEGAshed (Phase 1) do confirm a MEGAshed with 200 loading bays which will be used day & night 7 days a week, 364 days a year. Based on the Goodmans & Tescos traffic assessment figures given, there will be around 3,000 juggernaut and 3,000 other vehicle movements every 24 hours with more movements at night.
“Based on these outline figures, our fears regarding HGV hell have been confirmed.” continues Rhonda. “Military style HGV convoys will dominate all our roads – not just the A303 but also the A343, Weyhill & Lugershall roads. Added to that there will be car chaos and confusion especially at shift change peak times. It will be truly horrendous for everyone living in and around Andover and beyond.”
Juggernaut traffic
Every single day 3,000+ extra HGVs will be using the road system around Andover as follows.
1800 extra HGVs, more than 1 HGV every single minute will turn east onto the A303; 720 will turn west on to the A303 and head through Amesbury and by Stonehenge (I every 2 minutes); 540 will use the A343 Ludgershall road and 540 will use the A343 Hurstbourne Tarrant/Salisbury ring road – 1 extra HGV every 3 minutes on each of these roads.
Goodmans and Tescos have also confirmed that there will be more outward bound traffic – Tesco’s own MEGAtrucks – using the roads at night.
Staff cars, vans & support vehicles
Every single day Goodmans have confirmed a massive increase in car, van & support vehicle movements into and out of the site (conservative estimate of 3,000), concentrated at the three staff shift change overs. An estimated 1,000 extra vehicles will use the A343 Hurstbourne Tarrant /Salisbury ring road; 400 each along the Weyhill Road and the Ludgershall roads; 500 and 700 along the A303 West and East respectively.
“With Goodmans and Tescos refusing to reveal full traffic detail, we cannot confirm these figures but these are our best estimates,” adds Rhonda. “Don’t forget that these roads will also be carrying a huge increase in vehicles destined for the MOD site alongside the MEGAshed when Project Hyperion – the MOD move from Wilton - is complete.”
Proposed road improvements will add to the problems – not solve them
Road improvements will be restricted to the Hundred Acre roundabout itself with a new bridge and traffic light system that due to stop/start will be dangerous in itself as well as causing high pollution, according to HGV lorry drivers. No investment is to be made in the A303 itself, a road not built or intended for such volume or weight of traffic, nor to the A343 intersection which is acknowledged by road safety experts to be dangerously close to the Hundred Acre roundabout intersection.
“It is us the tax payer who will be paying for increased road repairs and us as residents subjected to unsafe road conditions whilst Tesco’s enjoy increased profits,” says STOP! campaigner Mike Cleugh.
With no allocated area for drivers to rest between deliveries, dozens of HGV and other vehicles will park up in and around Andover to the north, south, west and east.
TVBC Head of Planning, Mrs M Winter as well as the Parish Councils called on Goodmans to provide a 3D model with traffic simulation for public exhibition – and that was promised by Goodmans and Tescos but it has as yet to materialise.
“You’ve seen the
glossy brochure and the spin from Goodmans and Tescos – now come and see the
plans for yourself and the impact that this monstrosity will have on Andover,”
adds Rhonda. “Make up your own mind as to who will benefit from this
development. “It certainly won’t be Andover and district residents – now or in the future.”
An invitation to all Andover Residents
Join the ‘Queue
to View’ the MEGAshed plans on
Friday 19th October from
New objections to the whole plan and additional objections to the revised plans must be submitted by Friday 26th October 2007. Send objections to Mrs M Winter, Head of Planning, TVBC Beechurst, Weyhill Road, Andover SP10 3AJ or email mwinter@testvalley.gov.uk referring to Application No 07/01951/OUTN.
Stay in touch with the campaign at www.stopMEGAsheds.co.uk and on Sir George Young’s website www.sirgeorgeyoung.org.uk where you can still vote. Ends/ Experts and residents available for interview prior to and on Friday 19 October. Photographers and TV crew welcome on Friday 19 October at TVBC from 8.30am.
Further media information & to arrange
interviews from
info@minervaprc.com
|
Send mail to
webmaster@stopmegasheds.co.uk with
questions or comments about this web site.
|
![C:\Documents and Settings\Marc\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\V6OBRTCX\MCj04112440000[1].wmf](Press%20Release%2004%20-15-10-07%20Queue%20to%20View_files/image002.gif){kind=small}
![C:\Documents and Settings\Marc\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\V6OBRTCX\MCj04112440000[1].wmf](Press%20Release%2004%20-15-10-07%20Queue%20to%20View_files/image003.gif){kind=small}