Astonishment over Wash Common application

Newbury Town Council’s Planning and Highways committee discussed a retrospective plan, submitted by Mark Norgate, to change part of a barn to storage and distribution at New Warren Farm, Warren Road.
Councillors heard from residents, Mr and Mrs Cooper, who said Warren Road was too narrow for the lorries that made deliveries - sometimes two or three a day - to businesses based at the barn. The couple added that because Warren Road was often double parked due to the nearby schools, the lorries often had to reverse out on to Andover Road.
Mrs Cooper said: “Sooner or later there is going to be a mishap. We have safety concerns for pupils and staff as lorries also have to mount the footpath.”
Councillors were concerned by photographs provided by the couple showing large delivery lorries struggling to access Warren Road to make deliveries to New Warren Farm since March 2009.
Gabrielle McGarvey (Lib Dem, St Johns) asked how many times a day the vehicles operated.
Mr Cooper said: “It varies from day to day but there are usually two or three. The lorries usually operate before 7am in the summer and create clouds of dust meaning we are unable to open our windows.”
“We have complained to the district council but have never got a reply. We wrote to our MP as well but nothing has happened.”
Vice-chairman, Adrian Edwards (Cons, Falkland) said: “I am really astonished by this retrospective application.
“I am sure the enforcement officer will be sniffing around. We should ask West Berkshire Council to stop whatever they are doing and that the application can be considered by them.”
Howard Bairstow, (Cons, Falkland), added that he would like planning officers to look at whether increasing the size of the development was considered or not.
All members objected the application due to the impact on character of the area, over-development, inadequate infrastructure and access to the site. They also proposed that enforcement officers checked that the buildings were all subject to approved planning permission.