HGV Training Centre could be coming to protected site (From Echo)

HGV Training Centre could be coming to protected site

4:00pm Wednesday 19th December 2012 in Local News By Luke Lambert

PLANS have emerged that could see a HGV Training Centre moved to green belt land at Sadlers Farm.

Landowner Robert Lyons, has submitted a planning proposal to Basildon Council that would see the centre moved on the Birse Civils site, on London Road, which is on the cusp of North Benfleet. This is after RSM Commercial Driver Training, currently in North Benfleet, sent a letter to Mr Lyons saying they were interested in using the site.

The three hectare area of land, which is owned by farmer Robert Lyons, was scheduled to return to grassy land by Birse after the completion of the Sadlers Farm roundabout works, but it now appears the site could continue to be used to house large trucks and lorries.

If approved by the council the training centre would be opened between 8am and 5.30pm, and Bowers Gifford Parish Council and North Benfleet leader Robert Smillie said residents at the nearby Bowers Court Drive and Highlands Crescent, which are backed onto by the construction site, should not have to put up with it.

Mr Smillie said: “To be told that more green land could be taken away will make a lot of residents very annoyed. We have put up with the builders work at Sadlers Farm for far too long, seeing as it was supposed to be done by the Olympics.

“The site where they have been leaving their vehicles is a real mess and the heavy vehicles have cracked and damaged the pathways. We were told that once the work was finished the land would be returned to green belt land but now it appears that is not going to happen.”

He said the traffic had been terrible for the last two years, with a five minute journey often taking as long as an hour. Mr Harvey said in a letter to Mr Lyons that the site at Sadlers Farm would provide enough space to park the vehicles and carry out the reversing training. He said very little noise would be created and the most needed on site would be a good quality Portakabin for use as an office. He said the lorries would not affect the neighbours or cause any noise pollution.

Rose Griffin, Chair person for Bowers Gifford & North Benfleet Residents Association, said she couldn’t believe the plans.

“The people of Bowers Gifford certainly don’t want this. When you are told that land will be returned to its green state after such long and arduous roadworks you expect that to be the case, so to hear that the nearby residents could be faced with the noises and traffic problems caused by huge trucks it doesn’t make you very happy.”

The landowner Mr Lyons declined to comment.

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