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ALCONBURY TRUCKSTOP could reopen as an essential service area for
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hauliers because the landowner has realised that planning problems would scupper its redevelopment strategy Wrenbridge has told estate agent Bidwells to advertise the 10-acre site as a lorry park after residents in Cambridgeshire complained to the council about HGVs parking in lay-bys and on industrial estates.
Huntingdonshire District Council also says it would object to any planning application to redevelop the land for commercial purposes ('Alconbury truckstop site to be sold as owner re-jigs its focus'. CM 22 November 2007).
Conservative councillor Paul Dakers, who holds an HG V licence, says Alconbury's closure has had a -massive effect" on the surrounding area. He says: "I would love to see it reopened as a truckstop.
-Where a buyer will be found in the days of extortionate diesel prices, suffocating amounts of red tape and trucking firms going bankrupt left, right and centre because of a combination of the above. I don't know.
"I've written to the Department for Transport [DtTI about this and the reply I got was that the truckstop must have gone out of business because of some drivers stopping in lay-bys overnight. It is safe to say the trucking business in general is at crisis point."
Dick Wise, head of business space at Bidwells, says the land is being advertised for sale at £4.95m. He adds: "But they are being realistic on the price they anticipate getting for it.
-We're interested to hear from everyone. We thought we could get it through planning, but it was going to be difficult [with the council]. We figured it would be easier to sell it as a truckstop, even if it meant it took a hit on the price." Pat Nicholson. of the Professional Drivers Association, says: "We effectively put the kibosh on it with the petition when it was due to close. We all raised objections to it being used for commercial purposes."
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