Facebook campaign launched against airport car park plan

A CAMPAIGN has been launched by residents opposed to plans for a new airport parking facility in Clevedon.

The campaign – called Stop The Hand Airport Parking – has been launched on Facebook by residents in West End, Nailsea, concerned about the levels of additional traffic the scheme could bring to the area.

Nick Davies, owner of the Hand Equestrian Centre at Davis Lane, announced earlier this year he was considering turning an unused lorry park on the 15-acre site into a 500-space airport car park.

Two shuttle buses would take people to and from the airport, with one bus leaving the centre every hour and a bus leaving Bristol Airport every 30 minutes.

Routes which the shuttle buses will use have yet to be confirmed, but are likely to include Kenn Moore Road and through Yatton and Claverham Drove and up through Brockley Coombe to the airport.

However it is possible that another route along the moors of West End in Nailsea may also be used.

Mr Davies, a retired policeman, has already held preparatory talks with North Somerset Council planning officers and put his plans before Kenn and Yatton parish councils.

He says he needs to diversify the business as he is currently subsidising its running costs by between £12,000 and £15,000 a month.

But residents say the scheme will drive more traffic onto rural roads around Nailsea.

Campaigner and West End resident Julia Miner said: "Already drivers are directed via satnavs and Google along Davis Lane, Nailsea Wall Lane, Netherton Wood Lane into Nailsea and then Chelvey Road, Brockley Lane, Brockley Combe Road and Downside Road to reach the airport. Recent PACT traffic surveys show that there can be up to 400 vehicle movements per hour along Nailsea Wall Lane and the lanes cannot withstand this level of traffic.

"It is not safe for pedestrians, horses, cattle, cyclists and people going to The Blue Flame pub.

"The police regularly attend accidents in the rhynes and River Kenn on Nailsea Wall and Davis Lane."

Nailsea Town Council has also voiced concerns and is to write to North Somerset planners to voice their objections.

Town councillors said the proposal would generate significant additional traffic around West End and that the roads were not suitable for the already high and increasing numbers of vehicles using them.

Councillors also said that if the application was approved subject to conditions about which routes should be taken, these would be difficult to enforce.

Nailsea Town Council clerk Ian Morrell said: "The town council is very concerned about the proposed scheme because of the major negative impact it would have on the roads and residents of the town, especially in the West End area. If an application is submitted a traffic impact assessment, including the views of affected residents, will be essential."

Mr Davies bought the Hand Equestrian Centre in 2007 and has spent £2.6 million upgrading and refurbishing the complex which includes an approved Olympic stadium.

No formal application for the car park has been submitted to North Somerset Council.

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