Dear STOP! Supporter - good news!  We need to keep up the pressure now - so see below for 5 things for you to do! 

25^th February Northern Area Planning Meeting to determine the Goodman/Tesco MEGAshed development at Andover Airfield postponed again 

The STOP! Alliance can confirm that the planning meeting (The Lights, Andover Monday 25^th February) to determine the MEGAshed proposal has been postponed for the second time due to outstanding objections from Hants County Council that the developer has failed to address.
 
Additionally the developer and the proposed tenant TESCO have also failed to provide TVBC with a revised noise assessment, required as their first submission was based on incorrect figures and judged to be sub-standard. Questions also remain on air quality, lighting impact and environmental health issues.

"STOP! is delighted that Hants County Council is taking its time to consider and challenge the evidence that Goodman and TESCO has submitted to support this application," says Rhonda Smith Chair of STOP!

"Hants County Council has told us that they still have major concerns about the potential number of HGVs from the proposed development using unsuitable roads, with the developer's plans for controlling them unworkable. The travel plan has also been described by Hants County Council as ‘well below par for a development of this importance'."

In addition, the Highways Agency has yet to deliver a formal response to TVBC. 

"STOP! is attending a meeting next week with the Highways Agency and Sir George Young at which this development and its potential negative impact on the A303 and north-west Hampshire will be discussed in detail," adds Rhonda Smith. "Now that the Stonehenge bypass has been cancelled and another MEGAshed planning proposal is in for Solstice Park the cumulative impact on the A303 west is immense." 

Currently, TVBC will not speculate as to when the Northern Area Planning Meeting will be re-scheduled, although it will be held at The Lights to accommodate the large number of objectors to the plan. To date more than 2,200 letters of objection have been sent in to Mrs Winter, Head of Planning at TVBC. 

"Letters of objection may still be submitted," confirmed Rhonda Smith, "with many objectors also approaching their local Councillors to make their voice heard. More than 600 people attended our STOP! meeting at John Hanson School, Andover last night, with 300 attending such a meeting for the first time, evidence that opposition to this proposal is still growing." 

The STOP! Alliance was out in force on Saturday again in Andover High Street continuing to spread the message with their new AdBike and their ‘Love Andover' campaign message. Signatures to the STOP! Petition are now approaching 6,000, representing around 15% of the total population.
 

Actions for YOU - we need to continue to build our ‘evidence base' of public opposition

1.                   Send in your letter of objection if you have not yet done so - and one for every member of your family. They all count and the individual voice counts for a lot. Click here for help with your letter http://www.stopmegasheds.co.uk/How_to_object/How_to_Object.htm

2.                   Communicate directly with your local Councillor - even if you believe they may already be for or against the MEGAshed. They need to hear from you - NOW!  Click here for contact details http://www.stopmegasheds.co.uk/Contacts/TVCBCouncillors.htm  Email, write, phone - do any or all!

3.                   Start a Petition - download forms from the website www.stopmegasheds.co.uk   Talk to your neighbours, colleagues, relatives and spread the word and collect those signatures.

4.                   Refresh your posters!  New ones now available on the website to download.

5.                   Look also at Sir George Young's website about our 7^th February meeting  http://www.sirgeorgeyoung.org.uk/news/cnewsitem.cfm?newsid=3214

Thanks for your support to date - take heart from the cancelled meeting but there is still a long way to go!

Best wishes

Rhonda

On behalf of the STOP! Alliance