A lucky escape, by the looks of the Melksham Lorry Park Consultation -
http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityandliving/areaboards/melkshamareaboard/melkshamlorryparkconsultation.htmBackground:
The lorry parking facilities at King Street car park, Melksham have been deemed unsuitable and the Council is likely to close this car park to heavy goods vehicles. In light of this, the Council is considering providing alternative parking provision at Leekes car park on Beanacre Rd. The information below gives a brief background to the situation and explains about the survey that was undertaken to assess the options for relocation.
An online survey has been developed which will help the Melksham area board gain an understanding of the views of local people on this issue.
Background
King Street car park is owned by Wiltshire Council. The car park provides 24 hours, free parking for up to 8 goods vehicles within a designated section of the car park, in addition to pay and display parking for other vehicles.
The car park is bounded by residential properties and concerns have been raised by residents regarding the increase in use of the car park for overnight parking of goods vehicles. Resident’s concerns relate to the loss of privacy, noise disturbance and environmental issues created by the presence of these vehicles. The site has been visited by an officer from Wiltshire Council’s environmental protection team who indicated that the noise caused by the idling of lorry engines, particularly during the early morning hours, is likely to be considered a statutory nuisance.
In response to these findings, Wiltshire Council commissioned a study to investigate the options for relocating the goods vehicle parking provision away from King Street car park. The study also looked at the impact of closing down the lorry parking facility without providing an alternative. The sites that were considered can be found highlighted on the map.
Feasibility Study - King Street Lorry Park, Melksham -
http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/melksham-lorry-park-feasibility-study.pdfMap showing the sites that have been considered -
http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/melksham-lorry-park.jpgYou will recall the words of Richard Gamble, Wiltshire Council public transport portfolio holder, just after the land next to the station was purchased:
The deal is self financing and a long term protection measure designed to ensure that should there be an increase in the number of trains running through the station, we are much better placed to make improvements to the station. Our aim is to create conditions in which a good train service can be an economic success and we are talking to train operators to try and persuade them to increase the level of service through the station.
However if pages 19 and 20 of the study are to be believed, someone told the consultants a rather different story, and suggested that the WC-owned land at Melksham station be assessed as a potential lorry park site in the study
Luckily enough, the land failed the assessment on a number of criteria. The study highlighted Leekes car park in Melksham as being the only feasible option for relocation of the lorry parking facilities, and at the Melksham Area Board on 24th March, Councillors voted to accept the recommendations of the report: to close the lorry parking facility at King Street and explore the options of using Leekes car park for this purpose. The vote was taken subject to further consultation taking place with local residents.
Consultation – online survey and public event
The consultation takes the form of an electronic survey. A link to this survey has been emailed to over 300 residents of the Melksham Community Area. There will also be a public event, open to all, to be held on 15 June 2010 in Melksham Town Hall from 6.30 where options will be discussed and the public will have the chance to vote on them.
Online Survey -
http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/melksham-lorry-park.htm
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