HAVERHILL ROAD STORAGE COMPOUND
Stapleford Parish Council is aware of, and shares, local concerns regarding the unannounced and significant earthworks on land east of Haverhill Road, diagonally opposite the Recreation Ground. We have been seeking clarification from the contractor about what is happening and why no advance notice was given, and from local planning authorities as to whether any planning policies have been breached. To date, not all of our queries have been satisfied so we hope to provide additional updates in due course.
260 leaflets (see photo; apologies for the small text) were distributed this week by UK Power Network to homes in Stapleford after work had already commenced, but not everyone will be aware of what is going on. To clarify: the compound is being constructed by Kier and Ground Utilities Ltd on behalf of UK Power Networks and is intended to store heavy industrial vehicles used in the latter’s cabling programme. This work programme is scheduled for up to two years and will upgrade the network from the substation in Fulbourne, through Stapleford and onto Sawston. The compound will be in existence throughout that two year period.
Work in Stapleford will require closure of Haverhill Rd (other than for access to properties) from 1st Oct to 22nd Dec 2023. It is thought the road closure plus diversion will be intermittent, possibly interspersed with through access via temporary traffic lights.
Stapleford Parish Council was not informed about the construction of a heavy vehicle compound and has been given no formal opportunity to comment on it. We are very unhappy about this lack of warning and about the scale of the operations on greenbelt land at the gateway to our village. We recognise the distress caused to residents, particularly those immediately surrounding the site, and are looking to Kier, Ground Utilities Ltd and UK Power Networks for assurance that there will be much improved communication from them going forward.
The next Parish Council meeting is at 7pm on Thurs 12th October at the Jubilee Pavilion. The compound, cabling works and road closure will be discussed. It is hoped that our County and District Councillors will be in attendance so we can share our concerns with them. If you would prefer the Parish Council to pose questions/comments on your behalf, please submit them by close of play on Wed 11th Oct to clerk@staplefordparishcouncil.gov.uk. Questions and complaints about the works can be addressed directly to Kier via https://www.kier.co.uk/contact/ and Ground Utilities Ltd via https://www.ground-utilities.co.uk/contact.
