Traffic Impact Assessment
that only 4 two way vehicle movement would arise in each direction as a consequence of the unit 1 to 4 development.
Although precise details of traffic flow are not known it must be acknowledged that the former lawful use of the site would have generated a significant level of daily traffic, which is addition to trips associated with the Forestry Division activities included trips to the depot by members of the public. Section 2 of this report makes reference to previous uses and it is clear that a wide range of activities took place on the site involving both Dol departments and public access. These activities were carried out on a seven days per week basis with weekday activity predominantly between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., which includes the normal peak hour use of the local road network.
As such it is likely that the proposed development would in traffic terms be similar to that of the previous uses when the site was fully occupied and operational.
Finally, with respect to the point of access to the A3, Main Road, it is accepted that the current access does not fully comply with the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges sight line standards. However it must be acknowledged that the site could be used for its current lawful purpose without the need for planning permission, and without control over the number of vehicles daily using it.
The proposals for units 1 to 4 include measures to improve general visibility by the clearing of vegetation from the site frontage and are therefore some improvement on the current situation whereby the access point should have more "presence" to main road drivers, thus improving the current situation.
The Department of EFA is requested to consider the findings of this report with respect to the modest peak hour increase in traffic, and considering the site's former lawful use, agree with these conclusions.
