Protesters' joy at truck stop refusal
CHEERS greeted a council's decision to refuse plans to build a new 24-hour truck stop in Red Lodge.
More than 40 villagers, who had opposed the scheme since it was first mooted last May, packed the public gallery in the Forest Heath Council chamber on Wednesday to hear councillors throw out the plans put forward by landowner, the trustees of Upton Estates.
At a previous meeting, members of the council's planning committee, went against their officers' recommendation, saying they were minded to refuse the application on the grounds that the truck stop would cause increased traffic through Kennett and Red Lodge as trucks left the A14 to get to the new park.
Despite a plea from Peter Butler, spokesman for the Road Haulage Association, members did not change their stance on the application, which included a 64-seater cafe, parking for up to 73 lorries and eight-metre high floodlights built on the site, just north of the A11.
Cllr Roger Dicker, said: "The roads in Kennett and Kentford would become far more congested due to the extra traffic passing through them. The new truck stop would become a destination in itself."
Cllr Warwick Hirst echoed those views: "One of the key concerns is the increased number of lorry movements. The new site would at least double the amount of lorries stopping in the village.
"The centre would attract drivers from other roads. Both Cambridgeshire County Council and Suffolk County Council have stated there will be a large increase in lorry traffic."
Councillors felt there were more suitable locations for a lorry park.
Cllr Terry Waters said: "I think that there are better places further down the road for such development and such areas would save all these problems we are facing here."
Cllr Ian Radford added: "We have great sympathy for the drivers on the need for good facilities but the question is whether this site is the right one for such a development and this is definitley not the right site."
Before last month's meeting, more than 90 letters expressing concerns over the plans were received along with objections from nine parish councils – Red Lodge, Worlington, Moulton, Freckenham, Herringswell, Tuddenham, Kennett, Kentford and Chippenham.
After the meeting, Ian Harris, a member of the Red Lodge Residents' Association said: "It is tremendous news. The councillors demonstrated terrific courage by sticking with what they believed was right.
"They came up with some excellent reasons as to why it should not go-ahead and they were consistent throughout the whole process. They have done the people in Red Lodge and surrounding villages proud."
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Weather for Newmarket
Tuesday 07 February 2012
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