Representation by P J ROWLAND & SONS (FARMERS) LIMITED (P J ROWLAND & SONS (FARMERS) LIMITED)
- Date submitted
- 9 January 2019
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Plot 7 – 19
The proposal put forward by Highways England is to close this bridleway so that access from the A303 is stopped however, currently this bridleway provides access to the two fields that I farm in that location however, there is no point in stopping this access unless Highways England can secure access currently owned by the MOD which needs to be properly documented at the same time as the closure of this bridleway. Without that I have no alternative access arrangements to this field. Where the bridleway exits the land to the MOD land this needs to be a fully gated access so that the stopped up bridleway does not become abandoned allowing it to be used for fly tipping purposes. Providing the bridleway is stopped and the access gated the abandoned bridleway will be restored to full agricultural production.
Plot 11 – 09
Access to the north eastern corner of this plot is currently directly on the to the existing Allington Track however, Highways England’s proposals do not currently show any proposals for access on to the proposed Highway to be constructed here. This has been highlighted with Highways England but no proposal has been forthcoming as to exactly where the replacement access point will be provided.
The proposed Highway linking Equinox Drive to the existing Allington Track is welcomed but only works providing Equinox Drive has double yellow lines installed along its entire length to prevent obstructions being caused by parked vehicles affecting the agricultural access required at all times to the land south of plot 11-09. If appropriate road traffic orders are not put in place my farming business will be affected which has been explained at length to Highways England and which will attract compensation payments.
Plots 10-01, 09-43 and 09-30
Explanations have been given as to why additional capacity is required at either of the Electricity Sub-Stations but no definitive answer has yet been given as to which Electricity Sub-Station needs to be expanded or that the required additional capacity can be installed without extension being required. Expanding 10-01 and/or 10-03 will affect my business as Highways England will need to provide me with a new chemical store and wash down facility as currently this is the position of those facilities serving the entirety of my farming acreage at Amesbury.
Highways England together with the appropriate utility provider need to consider the proposal put forward to ensure that any additional cable work required in plots 10-02, 09-48 and 09-41 are located in the field running in a north and south direction from the Sub-Station to plot 10-02 rather than be located in the road, there may be insufficient room to install the cables in the road, due to existing cabling. Installing the cables in the field will be more efficient and have less impact on the other properties and businesses served by the private road reducing potential claims.
We also have concerns concerning the effect the proposals may well have on the River Avon watercourse and if any subsequent rise or fall in water levels will be as a result of the scheme, the explanations of which contained in the documentation presented to the Inspectorate lack precise detail. The diverse farm business supports various coarse fishing lakes generating an income for the business which may well be affected by the scheme and the lack of secure knowledge that water levels will not be affected by the proposals for the A303.
As tenants of Ratfyn Farm we also have concerns concerning increasing light and noise pollution from the proposals for the Countess Roundabout. Both of these concerns are relevant, particularly as there appears to be no provision for sufficient tree planting to absorb noise which is a point lost on specialist advisors.