Harnham Business Park is a lesson for council developers (From Salisbury Journal)

Harnham Business Park is a lesson for council developers

12:54pm Thursday 7th August 2008

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IT was with dismay that we read the article in the Journal of July 17 about the proposed new business park on Netherhampton Road, between the current Harnham Business Park and the Livestock Market.

The Harnham Business Park, completed in 2005, has only ever had one occupier, Bookers Cash and Carry.

The rest of the park is now an eyesore, as my photographs (right) show.

So, why does the council think we need another business park where one already exists which is largely unoccupied and which businesses have shown little interest in occupying to date?

The council's thinking that some Churchfield's businesses "may want to move there" is not, in our opinion, a strong justification for such a scheme.

In addition, what about the vacant sites available for local businesses at Solstice Park - shouldn't the council be concentrating on getting these sites occupied before planning another unnecessary business park?

We welcome any moves to improve local employment opportunities, but we are concerned about the adverse effects the proposed park would have on the A3094 (the Harnham and Netherhampton Roads) and, in turn, the quality of life for West Harnham's residents.

As it is, this road already reaches saturation point at certain times of the working day, mainly due to it being used by HGVs and other commercial vehicles along with residential traffic.

The A3094 is a seen as much better alternative to the Ring Road, as a glance at any map will show.

In addition, the road is the main thoroughfare through West Harnham, a residential area, not a commercial one.

It has a total of 16 side roads leading into it from housing estates located both north and south of the road and from two schools, in addition to the 280 or so residences who are situated on the roadside.

There is enough traffic, both local and from elsewhere, already using the A3094 without burdening it with the extra vehicular movements an additional business park would bring.

Of course, developers would be expected to make some form of contributions towards improving local infrastructure.

But, in our opinion, there are no improvements which could be made to the A3094 itself as it cannot be widened - an obvious solution for coping with increased traffic - due to the buildings located on the roadside.

Mention was made in the Journal's article of future improvements to the gyratory system at Harnham Junction.

However, we believe such improvements would make little difference to the traffic congestion on the A3094; in addition the gyratory was only upgraded in 2006.

While we look forward to the public consultations on the subject, we cannot help but think that the scheme is a veiled attempt to move Churchfield's problems across the city to West Harnham.
MAJOR & MRS TONY BARNES, Salisbury

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