Residents are up in arms as Palmers Road, a quiet residential area of Wootton Bridge, is threatened with an 833% increase in HGVs, according to the applicant’s own figures.
The new data requested by Hampshire Highways, working for the Isle of Wight Council as part of the planning application for gravel extraction by Wight Building Materials, shows that just 6 large vehicles currently use Palmers Road each day – but that the application could increase this to 56.
A spokesperson for Wootton Against Gravel Extraction (WAGE), the group set up to fight the plans described the new figures as ‘devastating’…
“WAGE have consistently stated that extracting gravel at Palmers Farm would be a blight on the local community for many reasons, including silicate dust in the air, damage to King’s Quay by pollution run off and traffic generated on unsuitable local roads. This latest revelation confirms this last point.”
In a further development, doubt has been cast on the assertion by Wight Building Materials that Palmers Road is no narrower than 4.8m wide. WAGE is requesting that a full survey be carried out on the road to ascertain the true width along the entire length before the planning application is progressed.
A consultation period ending 8th November, to discuss the newly submitted reports, is currently running on the Isle of Wight Council’s Planning website under 22/00654/FUL.
There are too many large polluting vehicles on this
small island, how the island will ever reach
Net Zero I don’t know.
If they don’t use this route, they will only use
another route.
Either way it is no good.
It always seems odd that people move to an area known for its gravel extraction and then complain about gravel extraction taking place.
The road directly opposite Palmers Road on the High Street is literally called Gravel Pit Lane, because there were several gravel pits in the area.
Take a look at the historic maps, there’s always been gravel pits in this area.
And, if you walk around that area, there’s barely a property that doesn’t have a gravel drive or some other use of gravel. But, I guess it’s ok if it’s extracted somewhere else, and someone else is inconvenience, and not near you?
It’s a bit like people buying houses built on a flood plain and then complaining because it floods.
If only Hampshire Highways were concerned about
Speeding on the island, speding is rife.
The road may well be 4.8m wide (which I doubt) but it certainly isn’t when there are cars parked on the road. There are several pinch points where this is reduced to one single car width if a vehicle is parked on the carriageway.