Representation by Mr Wilson (Mr Wilson )
- Date submitted
- 2 September 2022
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
DCO A66 Trans-Pennine September 2022 Objection – Mr. Wilson Further to our previous letter of objections to the November and February consultation. Please find below further objections following the submission of the DCO for the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Project. The proposals will have a significant impact upon the farming business. The land which will be affected is used to grown crops on and due to its size is heavily relied upon, the loss of this area will have a big impact upon the farming business. The option to reduce livestock numbers is not a real option, the business has built up the livestock numbers to the level they are today after years of breeding. In addition reducing the cows numbers would automatically see the farming business at a disadvantage, not only would they receive a penalty from there milk buyer but they would be disadvantaged when buying feedstuffs and consumables. • The council have included a SUDS Pond, we have requested in several meetings that this is relocated as set out on the attached drawings, the pond is on the top of the hill and a more suitable location will be at the bottom of the hill, as shown. • The access to the field will also be significantly altered with all vehicles having to drive past the end of the field to then come back on themselves this will cause a significant disturbance to the farming business and also cause a significant increase cost to the business. • The plans also show the remainder of the field which isn’t being be taken for the road being taken for Wetland Habitat, this field is a very dry sandy field and we wish to strongly object to this field being created into a wetland habitat there is a lot of other land which will be more suitable to be created into this which will not have a large impact upon the farming business. • There will be significant dust issues during the construction phase, which will have a large impact upon the steading and agricultural land and the ability to make good quality silage or have good quality grazing land for the dairy cattle. We would request that it be a condition that Highways England employ an Agricultural Liaison Officer for the duration of the build period to monitor this and have direct contact with the Landowners/Agents/Contractor. In addition, a specific condition should be put in place that a dust management plan should be submitted and adhered to prior to the construction works commencing. • The details submitted to date in respect of soil management is limited and further in-depth details are needed in respect of top soil and sub soil stripping, storage methods and measures but in place to ensure that soil is not mixed between landowners when areas are taken on a temporarily basis are returned. These details will need to be submitted prior to the commencement on site and we would request that this is done by way of a condition. We would like the opportunity to review and provide comments on these documents. • The details submitted does not cover the bio security issues in depth and we would request that a condition be placed upon the planning decision (if approved) to cover the method statement to prevent this becoming an issue. We would like the opportunity to review and provide comments on these documents. • The construction and operation of the road will cause significant disturbance to the farming activity not only during the construction phase but during the operational phase of the road. There are serious concerns over the possibility of trespassing and litter problems which will come as a result of the scheme. • The plans do not show any drainage proposals, there are a number of springs in the field which drain the field but also provide a water supply to the field and these will need looked into further. • 10 – Small Parcels of Land Excluded from the Red Line Objection of the location of the red line. The location of the red line across land parcels excludes small parts of field parcels which leaves the farmer with unviable pieces of land which will be unsuitable for agricultural use. The areas are not large enough to consider even grazing stock on. • 8 – Inappropriate use of Compulsory Purchase Powers As the full detailed design has not been carried out yet and the design keeps changing , the DCO includes large areas of additional land required which may be temporary and may be permanent, some of which it is clear that it is not required for the scheme. We ask that this is looked into. • 9 – Use of Compulsory Purchase Powers for Environmental Mitigation National Highways has included large areas of farmland for use as environmental mitigation. There is no reason why the landowners should not be able to retain ownership of such land in such circumstances if the farmer is content to take on the burden of maintenance, subject to reasonable terms being agreed to ensure the mitigation is maintained. • 10 – Maintenance of Farmland – Weed Control Measures On other schemes where large areas of land has been taken, via compulsory purchase land has then been left to lie unused for long period of time. What then happens is then weeds are allowed to grow and the condition of the land deteriorates. National Highways should be made to ensure that all land is maintained correctly. • 11 – Hedgerows Where fields are severed, by such a long linear scheme it will result in some fields being left awkward shapes. A common element for severance is the cost of removing hedges and fences in order to reshape fields into a sensible layout. Since the introduction of the Hedgerows Regulations 1997, the removal of any hedge which is more than 20 meters in length requires consent of the Local Planning Authority. This adds time, costs and uncertainty to farmers and in some instances planning authorities do not approval the removal of the hedgerows which further impacts the overall farming system of the affected party. • 12 – Interruption of Water Supplies The impact on water supplies, should be considered. National Highways should produce a management plan of how they will ensure water supplies are not impacted during the construction and operational phase of the scheme. • 13 – Land Drainage It is likely that the construction of this scheme will have a big impact upon land drainage. We would ask that it a condition of the approval that a full scheme of drainage is designed by a third party expert and then implemented.