Potterspury Parish Council has sent in several objections to the proposal to build warehousing at Cosgrove/Furtho Pits,WNC application WNS/2022/1741/EIA. We back the Stop 3000 Trucks Campaign and the Furtho Development Group. This is our latest letter to WNC.
11 July 2023
Application for full planning permission for 9 employment units at Old Stratford, Northamptonshire. Application number: WNS/2022/1741/EIA
Potterspury Parish Council are once again writing to object to this application because it appears that West Northamptonshire Council is not taking due account of public opinion in the parishes surrounding this application. This application appears to be at odds with Secretary of State’s wishes concerning re-empowering local communities as witnessed by the vociferous opposition to this application.
TRAFFIC
National Highways have already agreed that the Old Stratford Roundabout is over capacity. To reach the M1 from this site, HGVs will travel along the A508 to Junction 15. When this junction is not functioning properly, which, happens frequently, they will either divert along the A5 through our village, Potterspury, or go through Milton Keynes using the Old Stratford Roundabout. HGVs heading for the M40 will also travel the direct route along the A422 to Buckingham causing problems at the roundabout. None of the villages in our area can take more heavy goods traffic 24 hours a day. We understand that the traffic sample for the modelling used in the application was taken in a week when the holiday park at Cosgrove was closed and it is not a realistic model. We have expressed our concerns about increased traffic before and all subsequent information we have seen has simply reaffirmed our view that significant increased traffic will result, and this will seriously impact on our village which is suffering from the increased traffic coming from the new developments at Towcester.
FLOODING
The site is on a flood zone. The river Great Ouse flows adjacent to the site and is known to regularly flood, Old Stratford, Stony Stratford, and Newport Pagnell. Indeed, the unnamed brook that flows through our village which has been known to flood is the main feeder for Dogs Mouth Brook which flows into the area of the site. Losing a significant soak away will exacerbate the problem. The Environment Agency is concerned about the flood risk, as well as leaching of pollutants into the Great Ouse and they have not approved the plans so far. We are seriously concerned about this lack of approval.
EMPLOYMENT
The developer claims creation of 900 jobs when the site is up and running, and more than 350 during the construction phase. This appears entirely speculative and the jobs created will be mainly low skilled, low paid manual jobs that are already being replaced by automation. Across the country warehouse jobs are unfilled. The original concept of this site as being for employment appears to be a pipe dream.
POLLUTION
The development will have 96 HGV loading bays operating for 24 hours a day. There are also 847 car parking spaces. Air pollution around the site and local roads will be significant as will light pollution, particularly since the site will be visible from Potterspury.
WILDLIFE
The area is rich in wildlife including deer, badgers, foxes, bats, otters, and a myriad of birds and insects. The local plan stipulates that any development in this area should conserve the tranquillity of the natural and build environment in South Northamptonshire. We are at a loss to understand how WNC allowed the application to proceed contrary to its own requirements.
CONCLUSION
We urge members to recognise the overwhelming opposition to this development from villages across the area and refuse to grant planning permission.
Potterspury Parish Council 