07/08/10 - Ward Councillors to Oppose Night-Time Lorries at Motorola Site

Abbey Meads Ward Councillors are to fight a planning application which would allow round-the-clock lorry movements at the former Motorola building.

The application is to be discussed at a meeting of Swindon Borough Council's Planning Committee on Tuesday 10 August.

The Motorola building off Thamesdown Drive is being taken over by Vygon, a pharmaceuticals company.  In January, Vygon was granted planning permission to redevelop part of the site, but a condition was imposed which restricted lorry movements to between 8am and 8pm each day.

Now, Vygon has applied to have that condition removed, which would effectively allow lorry movements at any time of the day or night.   Cllrs Vera Tomlinson, Peter Stoddart and Peter Heaton-Jones will all be voicing their opposition to the plans at Tuesday's meeting.

Cllr Heaton-Jones said, "I welcome Vygon taking over the Motorola site.  But this proposal, if approved, would allow deliveries and collections 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, which is just not acceptable.  Local residents have a right not to be disturbed by heavy vehicles late at night or early in the morning.

"The condition restricting lorry movements was an important factor in the decision to approve the original planning application.  For Vygon to come back eight months later and ask for that condition to be removed feels like they're trying to sneak this in by the back door.

Cllr Peter Stoddart said, "Residents right across St Andrew's Ridge are quite rightly up in arms at the thought of lorries rumbling past their homes at all hours of the day and night.   I will vigorously oppose the removal of this condition when it's debated by the Planning Committee on Tuesday".

Cllr Vera Tomlinson is vice-chair of the Planning Committee but won't be attending the meeting or voting on the application.  She has asked for a statement to be read out vigorously opposing the planning application.

Cllr Tomlinson said "All three ward councillors, the Parish Council, and many residents on the Ridge are totally opposed to these plans.  The condition must be kept to protect local people from disturbance and I will keep fighting for them".