Letter of objection to Planning Application 11/00902/OUT

The Planning Committee                                                         

Gloucester City Council                                                        

Herbert Warehouse                                                                 

The Docks

Gloucester  GL1 2EQ                                                          

30^th August 2011                                                          

Dear Sir,

Planning Application 11/00902/OUT

I write with regard to the planning application for the development of land within the railway triangle at Gloucester by LXB.

Most trains to the north east and to the north west used to stop in Gloucester.  They do so no more.  The last one was the 07:02 hrs to Edinburgh.  Now, to catch the same train one needs to catch the 06:01 hrs and change at Cheltenham Spa; so much for speeding up the trains.

Four platforms at the north east vertex of the triangle would accommodate north – south trains, south – north trains, and trains to and from South Wales.  The bulk of the infrastructure would be within the triangle with plenty of space for shops and businesses to be incorporated into the station; perhaps funded by the developer.

A station at the triangle would make an ideal changing point.  One could alight from a London – Cheltenham Spa train and just walk across to get a connection to Lydney and beyond.  Some trains could stop at both Gloucester stations, as they do in Worcester.

The track work is already in place, together with most of the signalling. 

Long distance trains may then, once again, stop in Gloucester.  At present, the only ones to do so are those between Gloucester and London Paddington.

I therefore strongly object to the development at the location proposed.

So, I am asking the Planning Committee to, please:

Reject the Planning Application and ask the Developers to investigate land that would not impinge on the best location for a station to serve Gloucester, Gloucestershire and the Forest of Dean but to include provision for a station at the north east vertex.

Insist that a Section 106 Clause be inserted into any planning consent obliging any development to preserve a suitable piece of land, incorporating access, at the north east vertex of the triangle.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully

F B Cowell  C.Eng.,M.I.Mech.E.,M.A.Cost E.