|
Pyestock HGV traffic figures don't add up
The Daily
Telegraph: Pru accused of Plot on the Landscape
The Sunday Times
covers Britain’s Biggest Building - a shed
County
Councillor raises ‘strongest possible objection’
Senior MP backs
campaign
Pyestock: It's now or never
MP
joins protest against 'horror'
MPs join
warehouse 'horror' campaign_
MP to hold meeting with
Pyestock warehouse
campaigners Residents 'not told of massive warehouse'
A
summary with some further information from Tuesday 13 June’s article
in the Farnborough Mail and Fleet Mail:
-
“Sadly,
residents’ most serious concerns have not been addressed”
-
Find out
further details about the under estimated HGV figures used in
their transport assessment
-
One of
their key depots used in the assessment is now closed according to
Sainsburys, presumably it was inefficient?!
-
Sainsburys
state their Worcester depot is closed. It was less than 40% of
Pyestock’s 860,000 sq ft mega shed (22% of the total 1,500,000
sq ft Pyestock development)
Look
at this diagram of a mega shed.
100
loading bays on each side of an 860,000 sq ft mega shed
There
can be so many loading bays on one side of a 860,000 sq ft mega shed
they have to be shown in two separate parts on a landscape page of A4
paper.
So
whilst the Pru will apparently have ‘only 137 loading bays’. We
know that one of their mega sheds can accommodate 200! We know that
each loading bay can be used 22 times per day. The resulting daily HGV
movements can be easily in the thousands and not 600 as the Pru would
lead us to believe.
-
They
continually claim that ‘traffic generated will be just one third
of that generated a few years ago’. This is totally misleading.
The majority of the Pyestock North site closed in 2002. The
‘heyday’ figures of 1,600 employees were in the 1970s, when
there were company buses and considerably less cars. Also, our
indication is the 1,600 employees was for the total Pyestock site
including Pyestock ‘Old Site’ (now Whittle Gate at Cody Park)
Link
to the original article: Pyestock
figures don’t add up
Pru
accused of plot on the landscape
(The Daily Telegraph Business Diary - 8 May)
Mentions
our pressure group Stop Pyestock bLot Act Today
Plan
by insurer to build Europe's biggest depot
"a
number" of buildings covering 1.5m sq ft, bigger than the
Millennium Dome
Tipped
to be 24 hour distribution hub for heavy duty Tesco lorries
Resident
nimbyists and MPs accuse the Pru of ignoring its own environmental
policy
The
planned 130-odd loading bays border a nature reserve
The
Pru says it will listen to protest but just how closely remains to be
seen
If
you wish to read the full article then click the link below and search
for Pyestock (8 May, Sophie Brodie's 4th article).
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
There
is another extremely interesting article referencing Pyestock from 8
January, Taxpayer short-changed by Blair's first float. We will cover
this article shortly.
We
will be producing a follow up article to expand on our concerns about
the Pru ignoring its own environmental policy. To read their policy,
click the link below.
PruPIM
Environmental Policy Statement
In
the meantime, one of the chapters of the Developer's Environmental
Statement, submitted as part of the outline application (a material
planning consideration due to the change of use of the site) highlights:
|
|
A
picture of some of the 1,100,000 sq ft + of mature trees to be
felled if the Pyestock Horror goes ahead |
The
woodland area to be felled is approaching 17 full sized football
pitches (10 x area of B&Q Farnborough). We are sure the
developer will focus on the amount of replacement trees to be
planted. However, the same document (Section 4.17, Page 22) references
year 15 for 'early maturity' of the planting treatment (the 15
years is after the 5 year construction period).
We
also thought you would like to hear ‘a powerful ally‘ Sir Antony
Jay, co-creator of Yes, Minister view of Nimbyism. He has a very strong
and relevant view of Nimbys. Worth waiting for the audio clip to
download:
Britain’s
biggest building – a shed
The Pyestock Horror unfolds
in The Sunday Times article on “Britain’s biggest building –
a shed” at Pyestock. The
article raises some new key points:
·
The mega-shed is reported to be for Tesco –
should their catch phrase “Every little helps” be renamed to “Every
mega hurts”? Should we accept that the largest building in Britain
will be a hideous Shed next to the tranquil Fleet Pond Nature Reserve
and local residential areas?
 |
Britain’s
Biggest Building - a shed (at Pyestock)
What a hideous accolade and so close to the protected Fleet Pond
Nature Reserve (and other SSSIs and a SPA) and
residential areas |
·
The Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott’s latest
guideline suggests local authorities should avoid imposing restrictions
on new warehouses, such as banning night-time lorry movements – Tesco’s Thurrock Distribution Centre (DC) has a lorry movement on
average every minute of the 24 hour day (over 1,400 movements)! Yet it
is 60% smaller than the Pyestock mega-shed 1,250,000 sq ft option,
So how many HGVs will be grid locking our single carriageway
roads 24 x 7?! We are already grid locked during peak time!!
 |
Tesco’s
Thurrock DC has a HGV movement every
minute, 24 hours a day, 7 days per week! It is
60%
smaller than the Pyestock mega-depot!! - “Every
Mega
hurts” |
·
John Prescott’s latest guidance is for the sake of the
wider economy – questions that
need answers:
o
1. How would the
wider economy benefit from positioning the mega shed in Hart, both Hart
and Rushmoor are areas with less than 1% unemployment?
o
2. The vast majority
of the 1,800 employees would need to travel from locations outside the
area or add to the already stretched local infrastructure (current
deficit £1.5Bn with another £1.5Bn needed)
o
3. Other massive
developments in the same congested area are:
§
Farnborough Business
Park, also adjoins Farnborough Airport and is one of the largest office
developments in South East England, 1,670,000 sq ft with 6,000 employees
due in the next few years
§
Aldershot’s Urban
Extension with 4,500 homes?
§
Elvetham Heath with
1,800 homes and more to follow?
§
QEB with 1,000
homes? Hitches Lanes with 300 homes?
§
With many more
developments too numerous to detail
o
4. There is hope
thanks to John Prescott’s latest guidance (to local authorities on
substantial freight movements, distribution
and warehousing);
§
Such developments
should be located away from congested and residential areas
§
Balanced with the
need to protect the overall quality of life in towns
§
Efficient and
sustainable approach to deliveries – The Pyestock Horror contravenes
Prescott’s guidelines. 1,800 employees commuting and 1,500 HGV
movements per day on already congested single carriageway roads
is neither efficient nor sustainable
o
Siting the largest
Shed in Britain at Pyestock is wrong for the wider economy
·
John Prescott has changed planning guidelines to favour
such developments – The Mega
shed(s) and HGVs will increase emissions of climate changing carbon
dioxide, yet the government just announced they want to stabilise the
climate.
·
Almost 1,000 formal
objections have been received by Hart District Council and we expect
more to follow, as people realise their quality of life is being
threatened by the developer - the ‘straight talking’ Prudential [see
Sparks denial]
 |
Britain’s
Biggest Building - a shed (at Pyestock) The
height of the Pyestock Horror (drawing thanks to Bob Perry)
If
you look closely enough you can see the comparison of someone
walking their dog. The high ground site’s roof line would
tower over
120 feet above Fleet Pond Nature Reserve and dominate the
skyline.
|
·
1,500 HGVs (1 HGV
per minute), 1,800 employees commuting added to the other developments
(6,000 employees, 7,500 homes?) and the existing rush hour traffic
congestion, peak time will be redefined
as 24 hours a day 7 days a week!!
·
We look forward to reviewing the developer’s comments
later…
·
The link to The Sunday Times article:
The
Sunday Times: Britain’s biggest building – a shed
We would like to thank
Jonathan Leake, Environmental Editor for covering the Pyestock Horror
and we have added another useful article by Jonathan on the launch of
the mega-shed era
“Some of these buildings
are huge. Large-scale warehousing has a huge impact on the countryside,
damaging its tranquillity, adding to congestion problems and increasing
emissions of climate changing carbon dioxide,”
The
Sunday Times: big sheds
Senior
MP backs campaign
Shadow Transport Secretary Chris Grayling was
visibly shocked when campaigners explained plans to build the mega depot
on the former Pyestock site between Fleet and Farnborough.
“You can’t have all this development
without the infrastructure otherwise you ruin people’s quality of
life.”
“If you were going to have a major distribution centre here you need
low rise buildings that fit in and HGVs that can run straight on to the
motorway.”
Link to full article:
Senior MP backs
campaign
TOP
2 May
Fleet Mail and Farnborough Mail article
GASPS of horror greeted plans to build a massive
warehouse and distribution centre when campaigners outlined them for the
first time in public.
People were visibly shocked when the
implications of the plans for the former Pyestock site between Fleet and
Farnborough were revealed at the annual meeting of Fleet and Crookham
Civic Society.
Link to full article: It's
now or never
Hampshire County Councillor Adrian Collett throws
his weight behind objections to the Pyestock plan.
“It is totally clear to me that this development would have an
absolutely dreadful impact on the quality of life for thousands of
people in Fleet, Farnborough and the surrounding areas.
“It must be stopped."
“I have also met with the Pyestock
campaigners and the more research they do, the clearer it becomes just
how bad this development would be. It is also clear that many of the
assumptions that are being used to promote the development are totally
false, not least of which is the notion that this development would
improve traffic conditions in the locality."
“If it wasn’t so serious, this would be
laughable.”
 |
In photo,
left to right:
Simon Hughes, Rushmoor Cllr Sue Gadsby from Cove , Rod
Fisher (candidate for Pondtail) Chris Griffin (planning expert
& candidate for Fleet West), Mariken van Dolen (candidate
for Fleet North) and County Cllr Adrian Collett whose division
covers Pyestock North together with Pondtail Cllr Sue Fisher.
|
Link to full article: It's
now or never
TOP
30 March
CAMPAIGNERS have reacted with horror at
the discovery that the largest warehouse building in southern England
could be built on their doorsteps.
Objectors to the controversial warehouse and distribution centre plan
for the former Pyestock site between Fleet and Farnborough have
uncovered new information which has sent shock waves throughout the
area.
They have discovered the developers
are advertising an option to build one massive shed of 1,250,000 square
feet.
Campaigners have warned it would be
the largest building in the south of England, being twice the height of
the B&Q superstore in Farnborough and covering an area ten times the
size.
Horrified locals are fighting the
scheme and have set up a campaign group called SPLAT (Stop Pyestock bLot
Act Today).
They are worried HGVs will operate 24
hours a day, seven days a week and say similar depots generate at least
1,500 HGV movements per day.
Objectors say the busiest hours will
be between 2am and 5am and warn not all traffic will use junction 4a of
the M3.
They also fear that, with a stated
employment of 1,800 people, locals can expect to see 3,600 additional
vehicle movements a day on the area’s already congested roads.
The problem will be made worse with
the new offices being built at the nearby Farnborough Business Park,
which will bring thousands more cars.
Campaigners also fear the scheme would
further erode the strategic gap between Fleet and Farnborough, pointing
out the new Ively Road has already taken 164,000 square feet of the gap.
Key campaigner Steven La Pensee
warned: “We believe that such a mega depot will change our corner of
north east Hampshire for ever.
“The site is too close to
residential areas and many homes are just over 300 metres from the
perimeter of this development.
“To site a noisy 24/7 mega depot
beside a beautiful, peaceful nature reserve, a Site of Special
Scientific Interest and near a Special Protection Area is truly
shocking.”
Objectors got their message across to
Fleet MP James Arbuthnot during an impromptu public meeting on Friday.
More than 50 locals turned up to voice
their concerns during the meeting by Fleet Pond.
Mr Arbuthnot said: “This is a very
pleasant part of Fleet.
“The Pyestock site is essentially
the strategic gap between Fleet and Farnborough and should remain so.
“To develop this site in this manner
would remove this important natural boundary and the urbanisation of the
south east would be allowed to continue its relentless trail.
“I asked to meet the residents at
this beautiful spot so that we can fully appreciate the natural
environment that we must preserve. It is very worrying that the boundary
of this huge development is only a few hundred metres from here.”
Mr Arbuthnot has already written an
objection letter to the Pyestock plan, along with Farnborough MP Gerald
Howarth and Green Euro MP Caroline Lucas.
Dr Lucas warned the area would be
ruined in the distribution centre plan went ahead.
She said: “The extra traffic
generated by 600 HGV movements and 1,800 employees will lead to jams,
poorer air quality and considerable noise, which will begin in the
lengthy construction period.
“The warehouses will not blend in to
the surroundings as the existing buildings do and this will be
exacerbated by the loss of many of trees.”
So far, about 750 people have fired
off letters of objection. Campaigners have dubbed the scheme the
Pyestock Horror and have held a number of meetings to discuss the best
way of fighting it.
They have contacted local interest
groups and delivered more than 12,000 leaflets warning the scheme would
be “a mega blot on the landscape”.
The group hopes to hire a hall for a
public meeting.
Meanwhile, Hart District Council plans
to hold an exhibition of the proposals before the planning committee
debates the application, possibly in May or June.
A spokesman for Michael Spark
Associates, who are acting as agents for the developer, dismissed
objectors’ claims of one massive single building.
“We have never considered a single
building of that size on that site,” he said.
“There is only one application
before the council at the moment.”
TOP
21 March
MPs have slammed plans
for a warehouse and distribution centre between
Fleet and Farnborough.
Farnborough’s Gerard Howarth and
Fleet’s James Arbuthnot warn controversial plans for the former
Pyestock site will ruin the area.
More than 600 people have opposed the
scheme — which will cover a site equal to 21 football pitches —
dubbed the Pyestock Horror by campaigners.
Now the two MPs have added their
weight to the growing opposition.
Mr Arbuthnot said the site is
essentially a strategic gap between Farnborough and Fleet and should
remain so.
“A huge development like this would,
I fear, be followed by extra infill and sprawl until the gap was lost,”
he warned.
“The surrounding roads are
inadequate and the projected number of lorry movements would destroy the
environment and be intolerable for residents who should not be forced to
put up with disturbance at all times of the day and night.
“I am becoming increasingly
concerned that the existing infrastructure in our area is inadequate to
support the level of new development.
“This distribution centre, if
allowed, would dramatically increase the strain on stretched transport
infrastructure and, more critically, already depleted water resources.
“Enough is enough — and this is
too much.”
Mr Howarth also has grave concerns
about the proposal. Gerard Howarth
He said: “There is no doubt that the
proposed development represents a substantial threat to the strategic
gap between Fleet and Farnborough since the scale of the proposed
development vastly exceeds the nature of the current National Gas
Turbine Establishment.
“Although I note that it is
suggested that the main HGV movement would occur outside peak hours,
nevertheless the need to access and exit the site by employees will
undoubtedly exacerbate what is already a very congested area at peak
hours.
“In addition, the movement of so
many HGVs at night will undoubtedly impact on the quality of life of
those of my constituents who live to the east of the Minley link road.
“I hope that Hart District Council
will oppose this massive development.”
Planning officers advised the council’s
planning committee to approve the scheme at its January meeting.
However, councillors put off making a
decision for a month to gather more information and make a site visit.
When the committee met in February, so
many people turned up to listen to the debate that many were denied
access to the council chamber for safety reasons. Councillors were
forced to again defer the application.
Campaigners have since held a number
of meetings to discuss the best way of fighting the scheme. They have
contacted doctors who have warned that the level of lorries proposed to
use the site would lead to chronic respiratory problems.
The Pyestock fighting group have
written to MPs, MEPs and councillors expressing their concerns about the
application for planning permission. They have contacted groups such as
English Nature, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, the RSPB,
the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England and the Basingstoke
Canal Society. Campaigners have delivered more than 12,000 leaflets
warning residents of the scheme.
They warn the 24-hour, seven days a
week, 1,500,000 sq ft warehousing and distribution centre would be a “mega
blot on the landscape”.
The group points out that similar
depots are normally built well away from residential areas in locations
without existing infrastructure and traffic congestion issues.
“There are many other developments
being progressed in our area which if combined with the proposed 24/7
Pyestock Horror mega-depot (21 football pitches worth of floor space)
means we are being developed to death,” warned a spokesman.
“Consider the impact to your quality
of life and the amenity of our area if we do not stop this gross
over-development going ahead.”
The group plans to start up a fighting
fund and hopes to hire a local hall to hold a public meeting soon.
Meanwhile Hart District Council will
hold an exhibition of the proposals before the planning committee debate
the application, possibly in April or May.
TOP
24 March
CAMPAIGNERS fighting plans for a massive
warehouse and distribution centre will be able to put their concerns to
their local MP today (Friday).
James Arbuthnot has decided to hold an impromptu
public meeting with people opposing the controversial plans for the
former Pyestock site between Fleet and Farnborough.
He will meet campaigners at the end of Chestnut Grove,
close to Fleet Pond, at 3pm.
Mr Arbuthnot told the News: “Pyestock campaigners
have written to me to say they are very unhappy with the planning
application.
“They have also asked me what my views are on the
subject so I think they should be given the opportunity to ask me that
in person.
“If anyone has a particular question or point they
want to put to me then I would be eager to hear what they are.”
Mr Arbuthnot has already written a letter of objection
to the application, currently lodged with Hart District Council.
“The application needs to be resisted so I will do
just that,” he added. “One of the worries people have is that it is
the largest warehouse application in the UK and possibly in Europe as
far as I know.
“It means that the number of lorries coming through
the site will be one every two minutes or in the worst case scenario,
one every minute throughout the day and night.
“As a result, campaigners are not only seriously
concerned about the traffic movements but also the effect this
development could have on Fleet Pond, which is under threat from
pollution already.
“If diesel from all these lorries spills into the
pond then that will be a serious matter.”
In his objection letter, Mr Arbuthnot said the
proposed development site is essentially a strategic gap between
Farnborough and Fleet and should remain so.
“A huge development like this would, I fear, be
followed by extra infill and sprawl until the gap was lost,” he
warned.
“The surrounding roads are inadequate and the
projected number of lorry movements would destroy the local environment
and be intolerable for residents who should not be forced to put up with
disturbance at all times of the day and night.
“This distribution centre, if allowed, would
dramatically increase the strain on stretched transport infrastructure
and, more critically, already depleted water resources.”
Farnborough MP Gerald Howarth and Green Euro MP
Caroline Lucas have written formal objections to the scheme. More than
650 people have opposed the application, which will cover a site equal
to 21 football pitches.
Campaigners have dubbed the scheme ‘the Pyestock
Horror’ and have held a number of meetings to discuss their best way
of fighting it. They have contacted interest groups and delivered more
than 12,000 leaflets warning the 24-hour, 7 days a week 1,500,000 sq ft
warehousing and distribution centre would be a “mega blot on the
landscape”.
The group is also planning to start up a fighting fund
and hopes to hire a local hall to hold a public meeting soon.
Meanwhile, Hart District Council plans to hold an
exhibition of the proposals before the planning committee debates the
application, possibly in April or May.
TOP
7 March
Media coverage is increasing and now includes the
initial responses from shocked Farnborough residents.
This article is from the Farnborough Mail by Stephen Lloyd
A COUNCIL has come under fire for failing to notify
residents about a massive warehouse and distribution centre.
People living in the Southwood area were left in the
dark about the controversial plans for the former Pyestock site between
Fleet and Farnborough even though they live nearby.
And it was only thanks to a leaflet drop by
campaigners that they became aware of the scheme.
“This is an issue which has concerned the local
residents of Fleet, particularly the Pondtail area, for the past year,”
said Judith Fowler.
“However, because the application was placed in
Hart, the residents of Farnborough were not informed of it.
“I live in Lyndsey Close, which is only 100 metres
out of Hart district and only a stones throw from Pyestock and yet we
were never informed by Hart about this development.
“We only found out recently from other concerned
local residents who felt it was their duty to inform us of this
proposal.”
Mrs Fowler has sent an objection letter to David
Simpson, chairman of Hart’s planning services committee, which will
debate the application.
In it she says: “I wish to express my extreme
disappointment in Hart Council for not informing the local residents in
Rushmoor, who will have their lives severely affected if this
development goes ahead.
“I have been in touch with my local councillor Suzan
Gadsby, who is also very concerned about the development, and the fact
that we as local residents were not informed by your council.
“I would appreciate it if in the future you would
keep local residents informed of this proposal and future proposals.
“We maybe Rushmoor, but in reality are only 100
metres over the Hart boundary and so these matters do concern us.”
But Cllr Simpson said: “We inform people who are
adjacent to any planning application in our district but the problem
with informing people outside the district is that we don’t have the
information.
“Because of the Data Protection Act we can’t just
ring up Rushmoor and ask for a list of names and addresses so we have to
rely on public notices in the paper, which unfortunately not everyone
reads.”
Mrs Fowler warned that if the development went ahead
it would employ 1,800 workers and include parking for 1,565 cars.
“The distribution centre will generate more than 600
HGV movements every day with the centre operating 24 hours, seven days a
week,” she said.
“This means a least one HGV every 2.4 minutes.
“This again will mean increased noise, pollution,
congestion and increased road usage, especially in our area as the plan
is to route traffic away from the Pondtail area.
“During the construction phase, which I understand
could be up to five years, noise will have to be endured by the locals
and I am concerned that when the weather is warm I will not be able to
open my windows at night due to the noise levels.
“After this five year period when the site is
completed the applicants say that between the hours of 7am and 10pm,
maximum noise levels of 50dbs - above the limit recommended by the World
Health Organisation - can be expected.
“More perversely they state that between the hours
of 10pm and 7am the levels are likely to be even higher at 60dbs.
“How are we meant to sleep, live and enjoy our lives
in our own homes?”
Southwood resident Neil Minchin also learnt about the proposed
development from a leaflet put through his door.
“I am scared witless that this will be approved and
make all of our lives a misery and affect the surrounding wildlife,”
he said.
“It seems to me that the traffic along Summit Avenue
heading past Nokia/Kennels Lane and up to the M3 is queueing on a daily
basis.
“It sometimes only backs up to the entrance to the
Brakes Bros depot, but at other times can stretch as far back as
Morrisons or even further.
“If it were me who had no choice but to sit in my
car in the current levels of traffic I would hate to think of the delays
being compounded by what is being proposed.”
Meanwhile, concerned residents have formed a Pyestock
fighting group and are busy collecting evidence that they hope will kill
off the application.
Campaigners have also co-ordinated leaflet drops
around the Elvetham Heath and Ancells Farm estates of Fleet, along with
the Pondtail and Southwood areas.
Hart District Council is planning to hold an
exhibition of the proposals before the planning committee debates the
application, possibly in April or May.
TOP |
