NEIGHBOURS of Matravers School have expressed their concerns about plans to build a three-storey teaching block, fearing that industrial traffic will cause gridlock in the area and potentially damage their homes.
Springfield Road, which is where the main entrance to the school is situated, will be used for access to the proposed construction site. Residents are calling for the school to use alternative access via an entrance on Warminster Road.
The planning application submitted by Matravers School proposes the construction of a three-storey teaching block to replace an existing teaching block that will be demolished. The plans also include a proposed relocation of parking facilities and the demolition of two temporary teaching blocks.
A concerned resident of Springfield Road said, “The road is very narrow and is already too busy because of traffic to and from the school, so to add articulated lorries is just ridiculous. My home suffered damage to the walls and ceilings caused by the vibrations from the lorries last time there was construction work. It caused around £2,000 worth of damage.
“It would be better for the construction team to use access from Warminster Road, but I have been told that this would be too expensive because of the cost to prepare the field for traffic and the repairs afterwards, so this won’t be considered.”
Responding to the plans on the Wiltshire Council planning website, resident Caroline White said, “(The) schedule of work which we were told by the contractor at the resident meeting, would include the loss of the existing staff car park some time prior to providing a new one. This would be absurd as it would severely compound an already very difficult parking situation in the road.
“(Residents are concerned about) access of HGVs into the road associated with the building works. as during the building of the sixth form block one of the cottages in the road sustained quite serious and expensive damage caused by the HGVs.
“At peak times such as the end of the school day the road is completely gridlocked and it can take 15 minutes to drive halfway down the road. This is surely a safety concern for the residents and school population as it would be impossible for emergency vehicles to pass down the road. This will only be made worse by extra building-associated traffic. Is it not time for an alternative access into the school to be looked into, possibly off of the Warminster road car park?”
When asked by White Horse News for comment on the residents’ concerns, Matravers School business manager, James Paveley said, “Matravers School is delighted with the proposed multi-million pound investment in the young people of Westbury and surrounding areas. This investment will provide a state-of-the-art science, technology and maths building.
“Following a public consultation held by the construction company and designers, the building proposal has now been formally submitted for planning permission. We are now awaiting the outcome of the planning process.
“This latest investment will enhance recent significant improvements already made across the school site in sports provision.”
The planning consultation expires on Friday 2nd February, with a decision expected on Thursday 15th March. To view the full application search 17/11743/FUL in the planning search at www.wilt shire.gov.uk
