Basingstoke - Minerals and Wast Processing planned for Railway Sidings
On Monday 7th November the County Council published the final draft of its Mineral and Waste Plan. This plan proposes to set up a minerals and waste processing depot at Basingstoke's railway sidings, just north of Churchill Way West. Road access is likely to be via north east of the site through the industrial estate railway, possibly onto Kingsclere Road.
"This proposal will have a major impact on the area," says county councillor Ron Hussey. "The site is just a few metres from Spencer Place and the proposed conversion of the Eli Lilly building into a hotel. Just imagine the noise, dust and vibration from a minerals handling depot and processing plant on local residents. Then there's the impact of heavy lorries up and down Kingsclere Road as well."
Basingstoke Council wrote to the County Council pointing out that the Basingstoke railway sidings lie within close proximity to 300 homes at Spencer Place and that increased noise and disturbance would impact on nearby residents. The Borough Council is also concerned for Victory Hill residents and the nearby conservation areas of Brookvale and South View.
What's surprising is that in February 2010 Hampshire County Council objected to a planning application to develop the Eli Lilly site and stated that developments in the vicinity of the proposed minerals and waste depot might have a negative impact on its planned use of the sidings.
"However the Borough Council approved the application to develop the Eli Lilly site and yet HCC have ignored this and decided to carry on regardless. But it's not too late to have your say about this invasive proposal," said councillor Hussey.
You can read the Minerals and Waste report on the County Council's web site and write to them to let them know your views. The County Council will be sending its report, together with copies of all residents' comments, to the Secretary of State in the early spring for scrutiny by an independent planning inspector at a Public Examination.
http://www3.hants.gov.uk/mineralsandwaste/core-strategy-review.htm