A RESIDENTS' action group is piling on the pressure to stop a concrete crusher from being built near their homes. The Avenue Residents' Association (TARA) maintains that plans to develop industrial land off The Avenue, in Lasham, is a "creeping industrialisation" that amounts to "environmental vandalism". The road, it said, is very popular with cyclists, ramblers, walkers, horse riders, and is also home to peacocks. If the application goes through, the group fears a 25 per cent increase in heavy-goods vehicle traffic, putting users and inhabitants of the road at greater risk. TARA also claims that noise created by an open air concrete crusher would "probably be heard over this entire area, including the 'recreational parkland' of Weston Common, that is used a great deal by Alton people". Fears have also been raised over the health of two elderly residents living 200 metres from the proposed site. One is a lady who suffers from severe breathing difficulties and has to take oxygen. It is thought her condition could worsen if dust and pollution levels should rise. Ian Lansley, secretary of TARA, said that the group, along with an opposition collective from Powntley Copse, had been working "very closely" with concerned parties from all the parishes bordering the area in question, including Weston Corbett, Weston Patrick, Shaldon, Upton Grey, Herriard and Lasham, which is not strictly a parish but has a parish meeting. "They are all very aware of this application and the effects it could have on noise, traffic and safety, and generally on the local rural area." He said that residents were "vigorously" opposed to the application on the grounds that is "totally inappropriate" for a rural area, is on registered Common Land, and "does not produce any local benefit whatsoever". He also expressed sadness at Hampshire County Council's (HCC) support for the developer, claiming that the organisation had not imposed any "reasonable standards accepting these types of applications". On top of there being no clear guidance as to how residents should complain about the proposed crusher, he said there was also "no accurate information on land registrations, detail on noise emitted and specifications of machines involved". "No local residents, that we've spoken to, were written to directly about the application, despite HCC having their details from previous applications," he said. "We had to rely on the parish councils to find out and to get the detail." The secretary also claimed that HCC officials had implied that they do not even have guidance on how people should object. But even if there was a better facility for complaints, he said, it would not be of much use anyway, as decisions for such applications are usually a foregone conclusion. Should they contest a planning application, local councils fear being left with high legal fees, and as "the residents don't have the right of appeal against planning applications, the system seems stacked against us". He said it would be a "travesty of local democracy" if the application was approved, and would result in HCC losing "any credibility in this area". "We hope that the county councillors, who seem a sensible lot, will start supporting plans to permanently conserve Weston Common's unique environment, rather than being accomplices to environmental vandalism. "Many locals pay huge amounts to HCC in council tax each year, get very few benefits from it, and then are faced with an application like this, that will seriously damage the local environment and adversely affect many resident's lives - with no benefit at all to the local community." Mr Lansley argued that there are already three concrete crushing plants sited within a 15- mile radius of the site, "including one, recently approved by HCC, less than two miles away! Even the application describes the market the crusher serves as 'small'". The application, by Collard Waste Management Services of Camberley, is being decided by HCC because it is a minerals and waste application. The secretary said that EHDC, which deals with most other planning issues, has fought to protect the area. He also maintains that the site is protected land. A spokesperson for HCC told The Herald, however, that the land is not subject to conservation or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty status. She said: "It is land that, while actually designated still as countryside in its local plan, according to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council was originally used as a sawmill but was granted permission on appeal in 1975 for 'an extension to the rear of existing workshop and steam cleaning shed' and an 'extension to the workshop' allowed on appeal in 1978 ." It currently comprises workshops and an external yard supporting a steam cleaning business. She also refuted claims that the residents had not been informed of the plans. "The application has been advertised in accordance with county council procedures for county matter applications in rural areas," she said, pointing out that a site notice, an advertisement in the Basingstoke Gazette (dated October 29 2004), and "standard neighbour notification - within 100 metres of the site" were all carried out.
