Base granted despite objections
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Elstree-based McNicholas Communications has won authority to base 35 vehicles at Bolney, West Sussex despite opposition from its neighbours and the county council.
Senior council planning officer Sandra Hi!ditch told a Haywards Heath public inquiry that the proposed site in Stairbridge Lane was unsatisfactory because of the amount of traffic that would be generated. The sight lines at the exit from the industrial estate were not in accordance with planning guidelines and there was evidence of verge and road damage at one end of Stairbridge lane.
Questioned by Jonathan Lawton, for the company, Hi!ditch estimated that vehicles using Stairbridge Lane averaged 40mph—but she admitted that the council had not made a speed check or a traffic count. She also agreed that most of the units on the industrial estate generated traffic.
The representors were concerned about noise and fumes. They felt that some vehicles were travelling along Stairbridge Lane too fast, though they could not say whose vehicles they were.
McNicholas group transport manager Sheila Murphy said the company was involved with various civil engineering projects and operated about 2,500 vehicles. The Boiney site specialised in the erection and replacement of telegraph poles and the related cabling work.
A traffic count taken over four days in March and April showed that the company's vehicles only accounted for a small proportion of traffic to and from the estate. Its drivers had been instructed to turn south dawn Stairbridge Lane and a 20mph speed limit was strictly enforced.
Granting the application, with a condition limiting the vehicles based at the site to 12 tonnes, South Eastern and Metropolitan Traffic Commissioner Brigadier Michael Turner said he felt there was little point imposing time restrictions on vehicle movements when the company could have as many as 30 emergency movements in a week.