Traffic health fears over megashed plan

12:44pm Thursday 31st July 2008

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MEGASHED objectors STOP! have claimed the proposed development at Andover airfield could lead to people living close to the A303 developing health problems due to increased traffic.

STOP! pressed their case on Saturday at a meeting off Barlows Lane when fears were expressed that noise already breaches World Health Organisation guidelines.

On opening, the megashed will generate more than 250 extra HGVs travelling at night on the A303 say the objectors.

"This represents a massive 165 per cent increase in night-time HGV journeys," said Rhonda Smith of the STOP Alliance.

"Naturally residents in this area of Andover are worried.

"They are so worried that at the meeting off Barlows Lane they called for a ban on night-time working.

"For them this proposed overall increase in traffic from Tesco HGVs, suppliers' vehicles and staff cars, is the last straw."

Jason Harris, of developers Goodman, said: "The STOP! campaigners incorrectly suggest night-time HGV movements on the A303 will increase by 165 per cent as a result of our development.

"The reality is that there are now around 1,000 night-time HGV movements on this stretch of the A303. Our development would add an average of 15 inbound and 15 outbound HGV movements per hour to this figure.

"In planning considerations the relevant noise benchmark is PPG 24 (Policy Planning Guideline 24) which makes it clear a change in noise levels under three decibels is not perceptible. The change in night-time noise due to traffic from our development would be two decibels alongside the A303, which is clearly below the threshold.

"Notwithstanding this, Goodman has undertaken to provide appropriate noise mitigation measures to minimise the impact at the closest residential properties on the A303."