Archived decisions

Contact: David Evans tel 01489 576387 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report has been specifically requested by members of the River Hamble Harbour Board and focuses on the potential impact on the River Hamble and its environs of proposals for gravel extraction on the site of the former Hamble Airfield.

2. Recommendation

2.1 It is recommended that the Harbour Board determines which, if any, of the concerns listed in this report should be formally drawn to the attention of Hampshire County Council.

3. Concerns

3.1 The causes for concern associated with potential gravel extraction (with specific reference to the possible impacts on the River Hamble and its environs) are as follows:

a. Road congestion - the primary route to and from Hamble from the A27 and M27 is Hamble Lane. It is heavily congested at peak times. This already has a potential adverse effect on local marine-related businesses (marinas, boatyards, brokers and repair facilities, amongst others) and makes access to the River Hamble difficult for leisure yachtsmen travelling to the area by road. Many large vessels pass along Hamble Lane on trailers and low-loaders, although the largest of these would normally transit at pre-planned times to de-conflict them from peak traffic. There is concern that additional heavy vehicle traffic associated with gravel extraction would make matters worse, with a detrimental effect on the local marine-based economy.

Hampshire County Council's Planning Policy team has commented that traffic assessment is a major determining factor in the consideration process for sites. In some cases the traffic impacts will effectively rule a site out. In others, the site may only be viable if specified mitigation measures are carried out, which could include infrastructure improvement and/or lorry routing timing agreements.

b. Dust - the proposed gravel extraction site at Hamble is immediately upwind of the largest concentration of vessels on the River Hamble (Mercury, Universal and Swanwick marinas) when the wind is in the prevailing south-westerly direction. There is a potential risk (as yet un-quantified) that wind-blown and rain-borne dust from the gravel extraction site could be deposited on yachts. Such dust, if left un-cleaned, can cause considerable damage to decks, sails, deck hardware and canvas work. The cost of cleaning a typical yacht in such circumstances is of the order of £250 including VAT (quote from Marine Clean Ltd). The Planning Policy team has commented that dust is an important potential adverse impact. However, as above, mitigation measures need to be established to reduce or eliminate this impact. Dust is one of the factors included in the 'amenity' criterion in the Sustainability Appraisal which we are obliged to carry out.

c. Surface water run-off - there is concern that surface water run-off from the extraction site may find its way into the river, causing discolouration and, possibly, pollution. This risk cannot be accurately quantified without further research. The Planning Policy Team has commented that policy provides general guidance that sites should not cause pollution, which would then be worked up at planning application stage, whereby the applicant would need to provide satisfactory evidence to show how they would reduce the potential risk. We feel that the risk of site operations causing a pollution risk to the River Hamble to be negligible.

d. Local businesses - the River Hamble is currently a very attractive location to keep a boat, partly because of the quality of the environment and partly because all the expertise and services required to assist with the running of a boat are readily available close to the River. There are some 8,000 boats of varying sizes on and around the River with an average value (conservatively) of, say, £60,000 which gives a total value of the order of £0.5 billion. The services provided to the owners of these vessels by companies around the River account for a substantial part of the local economy (at least £50 million a year) and as many as 3,500 people are employed locally (either directly or indirectly) in marine related businesses. If gravel extraction has an adverse impact on the River and its environs as a result of the concerns set out above, this could have a serious knock-on effect on these businesses and jobs. The Planning Policy team has commented that employment impacts are dealt with as part of the Sustainability Appraisal and therefore forms part of the consideration process.

4. Impact Assessments

4.1 This report does not affect the services offered by the River Hamble Harbour Authority and has not been subject to an Equalities Impact Assessment

5. Conclusion

5.1 There are several possible ways in which the proposal to extract gravel from

the site of the former Hamble Airfield could impact on the River Hamble and its environs and it is recommended that the Harbour Board should decide which, if any, of these should be drawn to the attention of Hampshire County Council.