Mill plan battler attacks survey

HEAVY load . . . lorries on the busy Beal Lane crossing where the traffic survey was held

A TRAFFIC survey that supports plans for a controversial warehouse extension in Shaw is described as flawed.

Shaw resident Colin Jones says the study for a new high-bay warehouse and multi-storey car park at Fulfilment Logistic’s Lilac and Briar Mill base, off Beal Lane, contains serious errors.

The proposals were initially refused by Oldham Council after sparking outrage in Shaw, with fears that the 173ft-high warehouse would have towered over the town and the development would cause traffic chaos.

But the firm has appealed as well as submitting revised plans that reduce the structure to 106ft — which are also opposed by residents.

Mr Jones says the new proposals contain the original traffic survey, which was conducted on November 20, 2007, that caused concern by concluding roads could cope with the development.

But he argues this was not a typical day as there were only two trains an hour running through Shaw, not the usual four, resulting in the level crossing on Beal Lane being closed much less and creating fewer traffic queues than normal.

And he says the report ignores the plans for Metrolink, a development of 46 flats and 14 houses on the nearby Tara Leisure site and the likelihood of Littlewoods also extending its site across the road.

Mr Jones sent a letter outlining his concerns to the council’s planning department three weeks ago but, while its been acknowledged, he has had no other response.

He also contacted GMPTE pointing out the impact on Metrolink and questioning where a proposed 450-space car park for public transport users in Shaw would go.

Mr Jones said: “There’s no logic to it. It smacks of arrogance as they know they have got it wrong but they won’t do anything about it.

“At rush hour in that area I sometimes queue for 25 minutes to get across that level crossing. Pollution is already above acceptable levels and any additional traffic will only make this worse.

“It’s just not the right place for that size of warehouse.”

When turning down the plans, councillors said the size of the scheme was detrimental to residents and would produce additional traffic and vehicle movements. But they later withdrew the traffic objection because the council’s traffic engineer raised no objections and there was no evidence to support it.

The firm, a mail order business owned by JD Williams, says it has outgrown the site and needs to expand to secure the jobs of the 1,000-strong workforce.

Bosses have invited residents and councillors to the site on Friday and Saturday to discuss the revised plans.

A council spokesman said: “Both the survey’s conclusions and any objections received will be taken into full consideration by elected members when the application reaches the planning committee stage.”