MEDIA INFORMATION

 NOT YET WATERTIGHT AS PROMISED BY TVBC COUNCILLORS AT PCC says STOP!

 TVBC Planning Officers are presenting what they call a ‘final draft’ of the Section 106 legal agreement concerning the Goodman development for the Andover Airfield to TVBC Councillors at the Planning Control Committee (PCC) meeting at Beechurst on Tuesday 31^st March (5.30pm).

 However, STOP! has had sight of this ‘final draft’ and has found the agreement still wanting. It is not yet watertight enough to ensure the conditions agreed at PCC on 1^st December 2008 will be met and can be enforced.

Conditions being put in place include capping the number of HCVs entering and leaving the site, barring certain routes to HCVs and cars, erection of sound barrier fencing and securing financial commitments in order to protect Andover and its residents from at least some of the negative aspects of the development.  

“Many of the issues identified in STOP’s previous critiques have been addressed but not all,” says Rhonda Smith, Chair of the STOP! Alliance “STOP has prepared a further critique and as Planning Officers will not be reporting our concerns to PCC members we have forwarded our document to them as well as to TVBC Officers and other Councillors with an on-going interest in the development.”

 As written currently, the Section 106 condition limiting HCV movements cannot be enforced during the construction phase, a time when potentially, as stated by the developer, as many HCVs will be entering and leaving the site as and when the site is functional – and that’s without the new road system in place!

 Additionally, as worded, the Section 106 could potentially allow twice the number of vehicles entering and leaving the site each hour as the number recommended by HCC, Highways Agency and agreed at PCC.

 Add to these that the landscape conditions are worded too loosely; no compliance with sustainability criteria stipulated for each and every unit (as recommended); no limit imposed on HCV movements for Unit 4 at night and at weekends (as recommended); no agreement on optimal arrangement of noise barriers (as recommended) and you have an agreement that still requires considerable work.

 “At the PCC on 10 March we were all promised a S106 that was absolutely watertight. The current draft does not deliver that promise,” says Rhonda Smith. “STOP asks PCC members not to ‘spoil the ship for a ha’peth of tar’ and insist that more time is taken to ensure the S106 agreement is watertight before being signed off by them at this meeting. 

“It is not long until the next PCC (21^st April) so what is the hurry?”

A call will be made at the 31^st March meeting to establish a Monitoring Committee to keep a close eye on all aspects of the development if and when it comes to fruition. STOP! supports this call and activity wholeheartedly.

Further media information from 01264-710428 or 07783-821525