'Change route or we'll take legal action'
CAMPAIGNERS are threatening to take legal action over plans for a massive new business park and link road in Derby.
Residents say they will apply for a judicial review into the proposals if changes are not made to where the road will go.
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Gary Crisp
Developers Wilson Bowden and Miller Birch have applied to Derby City Council for a 10-year extension to their planning permission for the site.
A decision on that is now expected in the near future, with three "major" companies in talks over locating to the 86-hectare business park at Chellaston.
But, if it is granted, the residents say they fear the road will cause light and exhaust pollution and vibration problems for homes.
The route, as currently proposed, would run between the end of Holmleigh Way, on the West Chellaston Estate, and Wilmore Road, near Rolls-Royce.
Gary Crisp, of Queensgate Drive, said people in the area were willing to pay for a judicial review – though it would cost several thousand pounds.
He said: "The city council and the developers need to tell us how they intend to address our concerns. If they move the road we don't care how big the development is.
"It would be us that would pay for the legal challenge but people are willing to pay.
"We are talking in excess of 60 people who have expressed commitment."
Mr Crisp has suggested two other options for where the road could go.
One option, he said, was to move it to the other side of a watercourse on the land so it would be further away from the West Chellaston Estate.
The other was a new junction from the A50.
Progress on the business park, now known as the Global Technology Cluster, has been prompted by Derby City Council's successful bid for a £40 million Government regeneration grant, which will help fund a vital £15 million link road to the site.
The city council says work must start soon, as it could lose out on the cash if it is not spent, or close to being spent, by March 2014.
Mr Crisp said he accepted that a legal challenge could slow the progress of the development.
He said: "We could hold it up so that the Regional Growth Fund money isn't usable. We wouldn't want to be seen to be holding up a development that is in the interests of the city.
"We are saying the development can be done but with the road moved."
Asked for his views on the legal action threat, Greg Jennings, the city council's head of regeneration projects, said: "We are keen to work with all stakeholders, including local people, to find the best outcome for this site."
Mark Bielby, from Miller Birch, has said three firms are in talks over coming to the business park.
He claimed that, if they all signed up, they could be on the site by summer 2014, creating up to 900 jobs.
22 Comments
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by ProudBrit1
Saturday, February 11 2012, 4:47PM
“How many protesters about this business park have young children that in the future will be looking for jobs?????????? what better place to find work than on your own doorstep. Or are they being primed for a life on benefits. Get a grip with growth comes monetary recompense think before you act.”
by Rob09
Saturday, February 11 2012, 2:41PM
“Your comments show you up, Talksthetruth. You can't answer Littlepiggies knowledgeable comments by debating the issue, so you resort to personal abuse instead.”
by stephen192
Saturday, February 11 2012, 9:01AM
“In Derby there are plenty of empty building to cover the 900 jobs created on brown field sites and their is a business park at Raynesway that large enough to provide over 4000 jobs on a site that is not located on land that have been developed and does not use farm land.
Moving these firms to raynesway will have benefits with a rail line to London and Nottingham and goods and services could be moved off the road by rail reducing car usage and HGV using the public highway.
Chellaston business park have no rail links, have not bus links locally and will destroy farm land that used for growing of food and crops that supplied to our local shops in Derby.
Destroying farm land will reduce supply of food in a growing population of the UK leading to higher prices.
I have noticed many empty building near the main line that travels to burton close to Osmaston Road is disused and buildings falling down include a large area that similar size to Chellaston business park could be regenerated and provide space for these firms and the land is large enough to employ over 2000 people.
I believe jobs could be created for John Stewart of hilton but using urban land and land that been used before should be used instead of building on Green field Land.”
by Shaky101
Friday, February 10 2012, 12:17PM
“Typical NIMBY attitude. They should be glad for the jobs.”
by Oldpiggies
Friday, February 10 2012, 11:31AM
“from John Stewart, Hilton, Derby.
Why should this road be moved? It is proposed on the alignment protected and proposed in successive Development Plans for over 20 years. All the housing at West Chellaston has been built in accordance with those same Development Plans. But for those Development Plans the houses that Mr Crisp and his neighbours live in wouldn't exist so none of them would be living there.
Having got their homes, these residents now want to stop others getting jobs by preventing the use of a road route agreed as the best following several public inquiries. The current objectors didn't object at the various inquires because they didn't live there. They moved in with the knowledge that the western edge of the housing devlopment was formed by a road intended to go on to Sinfin to serve industrial and business development. Now they are saying that the development should be served in a manner contrary to the current Development Plan by carving a road through open country in another Local Authority's area. It is not just nimbyism, it is a mixture two other sayings, that is "pull up the ladder Jack, I'm all right" and "we demand that the goalposts are moved now our side has scored"!”
by Rob09
Thursday, February 09 2012, 11:05PM
“John
Post it again!”
by Oldpiggies
Thursday, February 09 2012, 9:43PM
“from John Stewart, Hilton, Derby.
I'd rather like to know where the comments that I posted earlier today have gone!”
by Corkysdad
Thursday, February 09 2012, 5:06PM
“Seems most of the readers on this site are of the "Three Chinese Monkey" descent. If you are going to comment, do the research!”
by B_o_b_1
Thursday, February 09 2012, 4:48PM
“"CAMPAIGNERS are threatening to take legal action over plans for a massive new business park and link road in Derby."
And who would be paying for this 'legal action'?”
by itsmemarko
Thursday, February 09 2012, 4:37PM
“Oh please.. if you move on a new housing estate and there is surplus land close to good road infrastructural then don't be naive and say you didnt know they were going to build on it...did you think they were going to turn it to a huge allotment .”