They knew a thing or two in the 1960s, not just about music, or putting a man on the moon, but that the site access on Birdcage Lane – originally proposed for English China Clays’ plan to quarry Straitgate Farm – didn't make any sense.
The various site access schemes proposed by Aggregate Industries over the years since then have prompted much discussion. That’s hardly surprising given the hash the company has made of the whole thing – and the fact we’re now on the third plan:
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... the plan originally discarded by Aggregate Industries’ consultants "on highway safety grounds".
We too have raised the problems that a site access in this location on Birdcage Lane would bring, not least the increase in risks to school children and pedestrians, and damage to 3rd party property.
We have even, through highway consultants Vectos, put forward an alternative that offered significant safety and other benefits – benefits highlighted again in our recent objection.
A similar conclusion appears to have been reached by English China Clays before the Public Inquiry in 1968. The "Findings of Fact" from the Inspector's Report says:
32. Although the application showed access as intended to be from the lane to the east of the site, it is now intended to be from the B.3174.
Ottery St Mary Urban District Council also had something to say on the matter:
371. On the traffic aspect, they consider that Birdcage Lane is quite unsuitable for an access. The amended access proposal, to the B.3174, is better, but it would still create a hazard and an additional hazard would be caused by mud deposited on the road from lorries coming out of the quarry.
372. The B.3174 is an attractive approach from the west to Ottery St. Mary. There is no speed limit along this section and traffic travels at times in excess of 50 miles per hour, particularly down the incline towards the east... The greater proportion of traffic would turn right on leaving the quarry, across the fast moving traffic, and the possibility of accidents cannot be ignored. Very dangerous conditions could be created when the quarry becomes operative and the volume of traffic using the road has increased (on 26th June 1968, a count showed that over 2,000 vehicles used the cross roads to the west, of which 948 travelled along the B.3174).That was 1968. What do we have today? A 60mph limit and – when Aggregate Industries last conducted a count, 3 years ago this month – almost 7,000 vehicles a day.
