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Preliminary Risk Assessment

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carolnjohn 34 posts

For anyone who has waded thru the latest Asda documentation on UK Planning website, you will note that Asda's consultants state that there was a leakage in October this year that necessitated a report to the Environment Agency. Not much information is given but I was so appalled at this that I wrote to the Chairman of Marshalls, (since he has so kindly left his details on the planning website). He would have received my letter this morning and this afternoon I was visited by his H&S manager. Very nice chap who assured me that there had been no such leakage and that the Environment Agency had no details of any leakage in that postcode for some considerable time. I was very impressed by the fast response of the Chairman, (who is retiring in a few months) and the professionalism of the H&S chap. But why did Asda's consultants write this, and if that is rubbish what else in their reports is rubbish too. Makes you wonder who checks up on Asda's so-called facts.
(I wrote to the Environment Agency too, but I imagine they will vouch for the H&S chap - no point lying)

gaby 115 posts

very strange. If you hear from the Environment Agency and it turns out that there was no report, I think it would be as well to pass that on to HBC. People need to know that their documentation is unreliable. They may well have said there was a leakage to illustrate the urgency of getting a "responsible developer" in there to deal with what they call a derelict site?

carolnjohn 34 posts

Letter from Environment Agency at Maidstone received today and they confirm that no pollution incident at the site is recorded. So nothing in any of Asda's reports can be believed. I will write a few more letters. Happy and peaceful Christmas to all our readers!!

Also do you notice that Sims at 13 Battle Road who benefit (in the application they are mentioned) are writing to support the Asda plans, sending a copy to Cllr Philip Scott - not being as quiet as I thought

gaby 115 posts

Well done, Carol! If only we had the time and the resources to go through everything with a fine tooth comb... but good that you picked this one up.

carolnjohn 34 posts
gaby 115 posts

What do you make of this, Carol? 
Either way, I think that traffic is going to be our biggest ally in this case. I just cannot see how they could possibly give this scheme the go ahead as it stands. 
The next planning meeting is approaching fast (4th Feb) but there is, as yet, no agenda posted for this meeting so I have no idea whether or not ASDA will be discussed. 



Are you coming along to the FSB event on 30th January? 

carolnjohn 34 posts

for info - interesting that Asda have still not replied to HBC's questions of 10 weeks ago.  Why the delay?  Any new legislation due 1 April that could work in their favour??

Attachment: hbc0001.pdf (515.0KB)

gaby 115 posts

I like to think that the delay is due to the fact that they are finding it difficult to work out a solution to the traffic problems around Silverhill. I can't see that the application could possibly be approved as things stand. Perhaps, with the current economic climate, they are reluctant to throw more money at the project at this point in time. If the application is rejected it will cost them a lot of money to fight that decision, so I think they may just be taking their time in order to get things right. 

The only point in favour of the store are the jobs that will be created. Again, the economic situation may work in their favour in that the Council may be more likely to disregard the points against if they can show the public that they are supporting the creation of jobs. So perhaps they are waiting for things to get worse?   It is up to us to show that the jobs are being created at the expense of other jobs, as I don't think our politicians will be inclined to point this out to the general public.