All Change for the A10

The developers have changed the plans for the A10 as of the first day of the inquiry - an underhanded trick by David Tucker Associates to remove the objection by the Highways Agency, rather than provide a safer, less congested solution to the many problems that Mereham could create if it went ahead. This isn't the first time David Tucker Associates (DTA) have changed their plans for a development at this site (or during a public inquiry for other developments) - and it shows that rather than provide a "truly independent" traffic assessment (to quote Robin Purchas, their QC), DTA will change plans to remove objectors regardless of the consequences to the people it will affect.

There will be a public notice in the local papers about this from 22nd November - the wording will be along the lines of:

PUBLIC NOTICE

Town And Country Planning Act 1990
Appeal by Stannifer Developments Ltd
Proposed highway improvements to A10 between A14 Milton Junction and River Great Ouse, in the parishes of Milton, Landbeach and Waterbeach
Further drawings are to be considered as part of this appeal. These include the introduction of bus lanes and bus priority measures on the A10; a right turn ban from the A10 southbound to Green End, Landbeach; and other cycleway/footway improvements.

Members of the public may inspect copies of the drawings at Development Services, South Cambridgeshire District Council, Cambourne Business Park, Cambourne, Cambridge, CB23 6EA, at the Planning Department, East Cambrdigeshire District Council, The Grange, Nutholt Lane, Ely, Cambridge, CB7 4PL and the Haddenham Library, Station Road, Haddenham, Cambridge CB6 3XD during normal library hours.

Anyone who wishes to make representations about the proposals should do so in writing within 14 days of the date of this notice. Please quote the reference APP/W0530/A/06/2014216 and send to the following address:

Persona Associates Ltd, West Point, Springfield Road, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 2PD.

Dated 22 November 2007


We urge you to write in and complain about the change of planning application at such a late stage, to question whether DTA are providing a "truly independent" traffic assessment or just trying to reduce objections, and if you get chance to read through the documents to provide your own opinions of the effect that increasing congestion on the A10 and increasing traffic levels on the B1049 will have to you.

We also feel that we need to question whether DTA "got it wrong" in the first place, and if so whether the whole traffic assessment is now too weak to continue and should be undertaken by professionals who can do the job properly. We have seen even basics like distances and traffic counts to be totally inaccurate - yet DTA are making proposals which could ultimately cost lives. They make unbelievable claims for bus patronage - based on projects that haven't got off the ground - not on local consultation. I doubt they have ever even visited central Cambridge to see how bad the bus situation is there.

Greed should never replace the wish to preserve life. Decisions made like this should be accountable. We believe that if such a poorly thought out scheme were to go ahead, any loss of live should result in DTA being held responsible - as is the case for railway maintenance. Perhaps then they would provide a "truly independent" view.

Some more information, together with a suggested letter of response for those affected - is available in this PDF (click here).

Latest Planning Applications

Planning Applications were printed in the Ely Standard on Thursday 6th September 2007 for Mereham and the A10 highways works. Anybody wishing to oppose these needs to write to:

The Secretary of State,
The Planning Inspectorate,
Room 4/04 Kite,
Temple Quay House,
2 The Square,
Temple Quay,
Bristol,
BS1 6PN

Any representations must be made before 28th September 2007 - so we don't have long.

We also can't believe that they wish to charge £100.00 plus VAT for the updated proposal - as if anyone would want to pay for such mindless repetition of the word "sustainable"!

The applications are shown below: