Benefits worth putting lives at risk?

This planning application was first brought to my attention by an article in the B.E.N.. On reading the article I was appalled to learn that the Planning Department had actually recommended polluting our environment with dust, noise and heavy goods vehicles.

Since that first reaction I have learned that some of the actions of the Planning Department are almost beyond belief.

When the first application for development on this site was granted, it was realised by the Planning Department that the gateway from the site was unsafe. Therefore condition No. 4 to planning application 55593/99 stated that the "visibility splay" should be improved. The problem with this gateway is that drivers leaving the site cannot see other road users soon enough to avoid causing an accident.

Work has started on the site, but no improvements to the gateway have been made. The obvious reaction of the Planning Department should have been to close down the operations on the site until the gateway had been made safe for use. Instead of which the Planning Department have done just the opposite.

Not only have they allowed continued use of the gateway, but they have recommended increasing it use by an additional 3,000 to 4,000 heavy goods vehicles per year.

I do not know what benefits the Planning Department think will accrue from granting this application. But are those benefits worth putting lives at risk?

C H Cottam

Hillside Avenue

Blackrod

Bolton