Controversial rail depot at Stoke Gifford recommended for approval
SOUTH Gloucestershire councillors are being urged to give their permission for a controversial rail depot at Stoke Gifford to go ahead.
The council's planning officers are recommending approval when councillors make a decision on Thursday.
Furious residents who live nearby confronted councillors when they turned up to inspect the 44-acre site last Friday.
They are worried about it being too close to their homes and creating noise, fumes and too much light at night. The rail depot would operate 24 hours, seven days a week, and the residents believe it would ruin the quality of their lives.
They have submitted a petition with more than 550 names against the plans. But planning officers say in a report that the new rail depot would have a positive impact.
They say: "Notwithstanding the concerns raised by the local community, it is considered that the development would introduce appropriate measures for the protection of the residential areas from unacceptable levels of noise, light pollution and airborne pollution.
"The development would also provide the opportunity to improve the visual amenity of the site and the surrounding area and offer valuable opportunities to improve the ecological value of the site.
"In economic terms, the proposed development would have a positive impact and would bring direct employment to the Filton and Stoke Gifford area and has the potential to bring forward indirect employment through local supply."
They conclude: "It is considered that any adverse impact would be relatively minor and would be far outweighed by the positive benefits of the proposed development."
Hitachi Rail Europe wants to use the triangular site near Parkway Station to build the maintenance depot as part of £1 billion plans to electrify the Bristol to London line.
The company has told the Evening Post they had looked at between 20 to 30 possible sites on the route but this was the only one which could accommodate the longer trains.
It says that noise would be low because the electric trains take their power from overhead wires and only give off a humming sound.
Some of the new trains would carry diesel engines but these would only be switched on when an engine had to be tested after being replaced. The test would be carried out inside a large shed. Nowadays, engineers are more likely to use a laptop than spanners to maintain modern electric trains. Floodlighting would be kept to a minimum because of the danger of dazzling train drivers on the mainline nearby.
The new electric trains will be able to travel between Bristol and London in 75 minutes instead of the current 105 minutes. They will not have a faster top speed but they will be able to accelerate more quickly.
If planning permission is given at the council meeting in Thornbury, then work on the depot could start later this summer and take between 18 and 24 months to complete.
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by Stokeygee
Monday, January 30 2012, 10:08PM
“Julie Boston (Bristol Green Party) talking on Radio Bristol this morning. (still available on BBC Iplayer)
This just sums it all up, Total Ignorance, even the presenter sounded astonished by her lack of knowledge. It was up to a local resident to make her aware of the facts.
The Green Party spokeswomen had not been bothered to even find out the basics, she just quoted what Hitachi's spokesman Andy Barr said. Of course she used the old favourite Ashford example, saying that the depot was surrounded by houses? When questioned where the depot was in Ashford she didn't know! She used the same familiar phrases " Laptops, not wrenches " etc etc.
She failed to mention that Ashford is mainly all electric, not mixed Diesel Electric like the proposed rolling stock for Bristol.
But she left the best laugh for the end, " Theres a great big embankment between the depot and the houses, this will prevent noise " she said... LOL!
Well Julie, let me let you into a secret, its being demolished ! Yes its going. It only took three to four years to be built, just imagine all the fuel it used in construction, and all the pollution to surrounding areas. We were promised that it would be planted with trees, and landscaped by the previous tenants, but Hitachi need to get rid of it because they can't cram in all the sidings! Bit of a squeeze on account of the land not being really suitable you see.
Is it any wonder why local residents are suspicious of what they are told by local councillors and alike when they can't even be bothered to find out basic facts about the proposal.
If Hitachi had been bothered to be clear and concise at the initial planning consultation then perhaps more people would be willing to see this proposal as positive not negative.
I realise we need to modernise the rail infrastructure, and also see the need for local jobs, and sometimes this has to be in my " back yard " .... If you tell people honest facts and figures and stick to them most people will see sense and welcome change ... if you lie to them or can't even provide them with basic knowledge and facts they become suspicious and not willing to accept.”
by Benefitcow
Monday, January 30 2012, 6:47PM
“jackdaw6856
Spoken like a true Keyboard Warrior. Such wisdom ! (not)”
by Stokeygee
Monday, January 30 2012, 5:57PM
“@jackdaw6856
"What a load of **** talk on this rail depot !"
If your having trouble understanding the discussion then your better staying out of it.
And also whats with the " we " ? It seems some people are prepared to moan about it constantly, but not prepared to do anything about it!
If you can't afford to live in the area then move, but the people who wish to remain are entitled to question and discuss the issue.
I dont agree with some of the people that post on this forum, and I may challenge then from time to time but I respect their views. I don't happen to think that their views are **** just because I disagree.
But never mind, it won't affect you ..... your moving !!!!”
by jackdaw6856
Monday, January 30 2012, 2:02PM
“What a load of **** talk on this rail depot!! Its going to happen don't matter what we say or do...just hope hitachi will buy my house so i can move on!!! Don't think so......”
by lolly60
Monday, January 30 2012, 10:53AM
“@ Stokeygee
All i have said on this is that this person was given wrong information when he went to visit the site in Ashford ,i have never said not to go ahead with the plans,just what he was told and what he went to see was wrong.”
by Grahameight
Monday, January 30 2012, 8:08AM
“Yes we use laptops. Still have to turn the engine on and test it at high revs.
Some will have diesels? Over 60% of the coaches will!!”
by Grahameight
Monday, January 30 2012, 7:50AM
“The existing depot could easily be modified to take any new electric trains, or in this case diesel trains with an electric capability, indeed St Philips Marsh has been assessed and with very little work costing a mere fraction of this new depot, would take such vehicles.
The fact is Hitachi's UK front company, Agility Trains, did not want to take on any of the existing workforce because of TUPE rules. New taxpayer supported supported site using the PFI contract will allow them to employ new staff with poorer wages and conditions. As for the lie that these engines only need turning on if one is replaced, a total lie. Who was this spokesman, Mr. Barr by any chance? Engines need testing at every A exam and above is mandatory.”
by Stokeygee
Sunday, January 29 2012, 8:35PM
“This a recent post by lolly60.... Reference Brian Allinson's visit to Ashford.
"There has been some serious wrong information given on this issue by the council man,this needs to be looked into right away before any thing is set in stone."
Cant quite work you out lolly ! One minute you are agreeing that Mr Allinson has been told wrong information, but then you think that it's ok for the proposed project to go ahead.”
by lolly60
Sunday, January 29 2012, 5:51PM
“Why the hell should they get compensation nobody has suffered anything.Also the people that have been complaining(the same ones that dont wont this to go ahead) for a long time about all the dust that blows up from the vacant piece of land would have no problem anymore.”
by Tim_M
Sunday, January 29 2012, 5:10PM
“@gp187: "Why bother having a consultation process if the opinions of those most affected by it are going to be ignored?"
How do you know they are going to be ignored? It seems rather unlikely to me that the concerns, fears, and opinions of those who object to the depot will just be ignored. It seems more likely that they will be investigated, to see to what extent they are justified, and where they are justified what measures will need to be taken to mitigate the effects on neighbours.”