Fears for nature reserve views over storage application (From Thurrock Gazette)
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Fears for nature reserve views over storage application
4:21pm Friday 26th October 2012 in News
THURROCK Council’s planning committee has raised concerns a new storage facility could wreck views at a neighbouring nature reserve.
Hills Building Group and Mersea Homes have applied to use part of the land it owns at Stanhope Industrial Estate, in Wharf Road, Stanford-le-Hope, for open storage, such as scaffolding or plant usage.
Conservative councillor Phil Anderson requested a site visit to both the industrial estate, and the nearby Stanford Wharf Nature Reserve, before determining the application.
The cllr said argued the site’s chief attraction is its “fantastic panoramic views”, and added: “Personally, I feel that amenity is something we’ve been waiting for years.
“We’ve fought long and hard for it, and the last thing I’d want to do is wreck the value of it by putting a scaffold yard in front of it.”
The committee heard 15 letters of objection were sent in by residents concerned about increased HGV traffic from the application, as planning permission would allow up to 72 HGV movements to and from the site daily.
The committee resolved to defer the application until after a site visit.
