Plans to extend opening hours for car wreck depot blocked

Copart UK plans dashed at Greenham depot which will store 4,000 vehicles

AN attempt to extend the opening hours of a car depot for more than 4,000 vehicles in Greenham was blocked recently by West Berkshire Council.

In May, the council had unanimously backed international vehicle auctioneer Copart UK’s plans to sell wrecked and damaged cars at the storage yard in New Greenham Business Park.

However, following the planning meeting where the original application was decided, the company, which is based in the US sought to relax a condition, imposed by councillors, that restricted operations to between 5am and 6pm Monday and Friday, with vehicle handling between 7am and 6pm.

The company, which has 13 other sites across the UK, wanted to further extend operations until 8pm and to be allowed to operate on 15 Saturdays each year.

The move attracted opposition from both councillors and residents, with Greenham Parish Council calling the plans “unneighbourly”.

Environmental Health also objected, following its own assessment of noise levels, on the ground that neighbours were likely to be disturbed by noise during the current permitted hours.

“Restricting the hours of operation as at present provides a means to limit the noise impact on neighbours.

“Extending the hours of operation would mean that residents are likely to be further disturbed by noise after 6pm and at weekends, when there is an expectation that most people would want to use and enjoy their property or garden without disturbance.”

West Berkshire Council officers said: “The proposed development is considered to be unacceptable having regard to the increased acoustic applicants on the site and upon neighbouring dwellings to the south east of the application site.”

Officers also pointed out that the proposed 3m-high acoustic barrier to mitigate the impact of additional noise would be ineffectual.

Copart was contacted for comment but did not respond.