Crash test site for Membury Airfield
The applicant, the national Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) proposed changing an existing storage hangar into a research and testing facility, and acknowledged a risk of poisons “leaching.”
However, West Berkshire environmental health officers raised no objection.
The scale of the hangar will remain unchanged and, although a winch and generator are proposed, their impact is considered to be negligible.
The site is located to the south of the M4 and is adjacent to Membury services.
TRL anticipates that around two tests will be conducted in a typical week, with a maximum number of four in a week due to the set-up time involved with each test.
Tests will, however, always be conducted during the day because good light levels are required in order to capture the collisions using high speed cameras.
A testing area will be required of at least 300 metres length with a potential further 50 metres for special tests.
This testing area will require the installation of an interceptor membrane to prevent hydrocarbons and other toxic substances leaking into the ground.
The applicants conceded that, as a result of the collisions, “contaminating liquids such as hydrocarbons and battery fluids are often present.”
They added: “Whilst these are cleared up as quickly as possible, there is some scope for leaching of contaminants.”
However, the application went on to claim that “the existing concrete hard standing will protect the environment by removing potential migration pathways. No further mitigation measures will be required.”
In addition, the site area is within the designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the immediate area to the south and west is open, farmed countryside.
The North Wessex Downs AONB group acknowledged “that this is an unusual development to have within a nationally protected landscape.”
However, they continued, “given the context of the site, no specific objections are raised.”
The applicant claimed that the proposal will result in economic benefits within the local area and West Berkshire both in terms of employment and financial benefit to the local economy.
They added: “Additional employment opportunities will exist for local engineering firms, as well as local employment during the construction phase.”