Road safety worries over warehouse plan near Telford
People in a village near Telford have voiced concerns over plans which could see big car transporters travelling down narrow lanes near their homes.
Plans have been submitted by a county car dealer to turn the former Angel Centre at the old RAF base in High Ercall into a warehouse to store and distribute cars.
Greenhous Group, which runs car dealerships, has said it intends to "sympathetically redevelop" the 34-acre site to store vehicles and prepare them for sale, creating up to 50 jobs.
But residents living in and around the village say the proposed transporters bringing in the cars will have difficulties on the road – despite plans including the addition of a new access to the site.
Marilyn Jones, who has lived in Osbaston, on the edge of High Ercall, for 13 years, said the roads were very narrow, already very dangerous and frequently used by tractors.
She said: "Most traffic is to come from the north and be directed to approach via the very acute, narrow Walton corner – already evidenced as a dangerous bend. The applicant and or council should investigate whether there is another viable route. Traffic from the south will also approach via Crabtree Lane. Walton bend is already an accident black spot.
"There is a house on the corner which I believe has already had to be rebuilt a number of times.
"The whole of Crabtree Lane is not as straight as it appears in the plan. It has high hedges, poor visibility and is too narrow.
"For 280 metres at the eastern end, two cars cannot pass. Cars are frequently required to reverse upwards of 50 yards in both directions to pass larger vehicles that cannot or will not manoeuvre. You would really need to widen the roads but you can't widen it at Walton bend because there is already a property.
"If one of these transporters comes face to face with a lorry on these lanes they will have a Mexican stand-off."
The plans, submitted by Greenhous Group (Holdings) Ltd, have recently been amended, and has been submitted to Telford & Wrekin Council for decision by delegated powers.
The plans include adding a new access off Crab Tree Lane and Muckleton Lane junction, as well as adding traffic signals on Walton Lane. It has received more than 50 objections from the public. A spokesman for Greenhous said: "Our advisers are working with the local authority and highways to mitigate any concerns on the surrounding roads."
