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Suffolk councils: The viability of truck ,,
Page 9
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parks are a "matter for the developer"
By Chris Tindal( SUFFOLK COUNCILS deny they are taking the commercial viability of truck park applications into consideration, despite the fact that CM has obtained documents that reveal concern over requests to build sites with fewer than 250 spaces.
Files released under the Freedom of Information Act also show that Mid-Suffolk District Council (MSDC) admits it is "playing catch-up" in order to rectify the severe shortage of secure, overnight parking spaces for LGV drivers in the county. In the meantime, hundreds of drivers must continue to park overnight in unsecure lay-bys.
Several developers have approached Suffolk County Council (SCC) and MSDC to build truckstops, but concern is growing that these proposals are doomed to fail unless they can cater for 250 trucks.
According to a letter from an SCC senior engineer, which was sent to MSDC's planning policy officer, this figure was provided by truckstop operator Nightowl.
The letter, which discusses plans to build 39 spaces at Creeting St Peter, says that because any new facility will be privately funded, it must be commercially viable. Referring to the 39 spaces, it concludes: "This is not a sufficient number to cater for the current demand. I would also query the site's commercial viability given its proposed size.
In an e-mail from MSDC to SCC in February before a meeting to discuss the Creeting St Peter plans. concern is expressed that the client, WH Jardine, might question why the council had increased the guideline capacity from 95 in 2007 to 250.
"If I were Jardines, my first question would be 'Is this a change in the strategy/policy and what evidence is there to support it?'. Incidentally, Jardines have been promoting their site for more than 10 years and are unlikely to roll over either for an allocation or application unless the evidence is clear-cut."
An SCC spokeswoman denies it is basing decisions on commercial viability, adding this "is a matter for the developer".
An MSDC spokesman says: "Operators may see 250 as a financial threshold and wish to submit proposals at that scale, but we will not require it or deny it because of that reason. The planning system will simply assess the merits or problems arising from the use of land."
• See next week's issue for an investigation into Suffolk's lorry park plans.