Controversial truck stop ‘in wrong place’ next to village near Bristol
Plans have been approved for a controversial truck stop 'in the wrong place' just outside a village near Bristol. Villagers from Severn Beach opposed the planning application for a field on the corner of Severn Road and Govier Way with spaces for 39 lorries.
The truck stop will be built on a field at the corner of Severn Road and Govier Way. South Gloucestershire[1] Council's development management committee voted to permit the plans, but first heard that an alternative location would be far more suitable. Advertisement
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The plans include a building for drivers to sit and have something to eat, a shower and toilets.
The entrance would be off Govier Way, but crossing a popular bridleway and cycling route. At the moment, lorries can often be seen parked along the side of the road in the area.
Alderman Peter Tyzack, who sits on the Severn Beach parish council, said: "We will support a truck stop in the right place, but this isn't it. To propose taking part of our front garden, to park your trucks on, is completely the wrong approach.
This field is part of our green buffer, it's in the space in between the village and the commercial areas."
The location is in between an industrial area and a village -Credit:Copyright Unknown
Gary Shephard, from the Severn Beach neighbourhood plan steering group, added: "This 24-hour operation would bring constant noise, air and light pollution, particularly at night, seriously affecting the health and wellbeing of nearby residents. We urge the committee to consider local views and refuse this application." Advertisement
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He added that the development could increase the risk of flooding, harm local habitats for birds, and pose a danger to horse riders passing nearby.
He suggested the truck stop should instead be built near the new motorway junction planned for the M49, which is closer to the warehouses in the area and further away from houses in Severn Beach. However this might cost too much.
William Gilder, the applicant, said: "The plight of our lorry drivers and the lack of safe, secure facilities available is well documented at a national level. The shortage of lorry drivers in the UK is a direct result of poor quality, unsecure, roadside driver facilities.
"Many lorry drivers have little option but to park on the public highways and in laybys during mandatory rest stops and overnight.
This has resulted in high levels of roadside crime, with theft of lorry loads becoming a serious problem. It's costing the UK economy an estimated GBP250 million per year. There are no other sites in the area that can meet this need."
While there are some vacant plots in the industrial area, the value of this land is very high, making a truck stop unviable.
Mr Gilder added that none of the opponents to his plans could identify an alternative location for him to build a truck stop, "because they simply don't exist".
He said: "The UK haulage industry is the backbone of the UK economy.
Why should drivers be treated as third-class citizens?
If you ate it for tea last night, slept on it, or are wearing it, then I can assure you: it came on a lorry."
References
- ^ South Gloucestershire (www.bristolpost.co.uk)