Footpaths bid to scupper new M5 services at Brookthorpe
FOOTPATHS could yet put the boot into a new £40million motorway services at Brookthorpe, claim campaigners fighting the controversial scheme.
Protests about three public rights of way being diverted to make way for the massive 70 acre development at Onger's Farm now mean there will have to be a public inquiry.
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Eric Hibbert and Paul Gaze
The hearing could take a year to be organised, held and a decision announced, said Eric Hibbert, chairman of Brookthorpe with Whaddon Parish Council, which is one of nine objectors to the diversions.
"They are absolutely essential to the scheme really," Mr Hibbert said.
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"If you take it to its logical conclusion they would probably find some way around it. But it would have serious consequences and could take 12 months."
Mr Hibbert said 98 per cent of Brookthorpe parishioners had voted against the Gloucestershire Gateway and Westmorland idea for petrol stations, cafes and car and lorry parks on Onger's green fields. A 1,000-name petition earlier opposed the services because people believed the beautiful local landscape would be ruined by noise and extra traffic.
But the services gained permission from Stroud District Council in August 2010 and later the authority also agreed that the three paths could be diverted.
"The councillors were happy with the diversions but because there are objections effectively it goes straight to appeal," the council's head of planning Phil Skill said.
"They have to be moved because the paths are crossing where vehicles will be driving at 70mph on the acceleration and deceleration lanes," Mr Skill said.
"This is more about where the diversions will go. The fact that they have to be moved has already been considered," he said.
Westmorland's head of marketing Claire Logan-Stephens said the plan to divert the footpaths was known at the time the original planning was decided. "We are now following normal legal procedures in order to facilitate development works," she said.
Comments
by mark812
Friday, February 08 2013, 4:47AM
“@valhalla2010 You clearly have no concept of what Westmorland do. There will not be a franchise in site at this station. There will be a farm shop, a restaurant with home made food with supplies all bought from local suppliers. Please do your research before mud slinging.”
by LordGagas
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 9:15PM
“Glevumgirl, its too late im afraid. What a shame through, all because of the greed of a few men.”
by FreeRadical1
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 6:34PM
“Valhalla, the motorway service area was said to be needed because of the lack of an MSA on the M50. There was nowhere that an MSA could legally be built on the M50 because of all of the petty rules that the Department for Transport thought up in 2008 (e.g. no new MSA can be built at or near an existing junction). Therefore, this application was permitted because it was considered (by the Highways Agency) that an MSA was necessary to serve the traffic that uses both the M5 and the M50. The Brookthorpe location was the only one that was legally allowable. Personally, I disagree with the Highways Agency, but the appeal court judge agreed with them, so the MSA is going ahead.”
by Glevumgirl
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 3:28PM
“In my opinion this isn't needed here .Blooms garden centre gave out leaflets last year saying people could use this as an alternative to another services.Its right next to the motorway -got toilets /baby change ,good food ,parking maybe not for large vehicles/hgv's but its not far from strensham or far to michaels wood ,the larger vehicles could use facilities at either of these.PLEASE do not sacrfice our unique landscape /wildlife catchment area for the proposed services.”
by Biggerman
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 12:39PM
“A 1000 name petition - Obviously they were friends of Eric and Paul looking at the size of the local population.
Nimby's? Where do they live in relation to this site.
Eric/Paul, Please don't worry about the next generations of workers as long as your alright.”
by valhalla2010
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 12:33PM
“@Safeandnice- Exactly how do motorway service contribute to the county? It all goes to big business, except the minimum wages paid out to those who work there(part time of course).”
by Lecorche
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 12:26PM
“Cannot somebody find a Newt?”
by safeandnice
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 12:09PM
“How many people pass through the County on the M5?
How many contribute to the income of the County?
Build a new services .........”
by Morrigan
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 11:48AM
“It isn't required, Bob_Flaps. A Wilderness Centre, on the other hand...”
by valhalla2010
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 11:44AM
“Bobflaps; No-one benefits except big business and a few people get minimum wage jobs (which enable them to buy things that they don't need from big businesses)
It is time to take the country back- street by street!”