South Gloucestershire | Archive | 2005 | July | 15
From the Gazette, first published Friday 15th Jul 2005.
A CLOUD of uncertainty still hangs over the villages of Littleton-on-Severn and Elberton after planners again put off a decision on a scheme for a business park in a country lane.
Residents in the rural community fear traffic chaos if the proposals for the former Electrotech micro electronics plant get the go ahead.
Current owners of the dormant Severnside site, Tull Properties, have applied to South Gloucestershire Council for permission to let the buildings for offices, research and development and light industrial use.
It would mean lifting a 22-year-old planning condition restricting use of the Whale Wharf premises - accessed by a narrow country lane - to high-tech electronics manufacturing and research purposes only.
Aust parish councillors say the Green Belt site is totally unsuitable and unsustainable for the proposed use and would have disastrous consequences. Scores of residents have also protested, focusing mainly on the area's totally inadequate road network.
Protestors packed last week's meeting of the Development Control (West) Committee hoping to see councillors reject the proposals in line with recommendations from planning officers.
But they left disappointed after councillors accepted that further legal advice was required before reaching a decision.
Severn ward councillor Matthew Riddle said: "This proposal has been threatening Littleton and Elberton for a long time and the deferral means that a cloud of uncertainly still hangs over both villages.
"However, the applicants submitted a barrister's opinion at the 11th hour suggesting that the planning report is flawed and planning officers need time to get their own legal opinion."
The issue was now likely to come back before the committee in September, he said, and he urged residents to sign a protest petition he is currently organising.
Aust parish councillor Mike Hawkins said many people still had unpleasant memories of the traffic conditions that existed when the old plant was still in operation.
"It is rare than an application has such potential to adversely affect so many people - not just the villagers of Littleton and Elberton but also all the pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders who are currently the prime users of these roads," he said.
Cllr Hawkins said the council should also be taking enforcement action in respect of unauthorised increases in floorspace at the plant.
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