I RECENTLY attended the TVBC Planning meeting which approved the convenience store and two takeaways on the site of the old Haydon’s Garage.

I was interested to listen to the discussions on parking, deliveries and noise. I sympathise with the residents regarding the outcome.

We now move to the next commercial development in a residential area of Andover. On behalf of 80+ residents of Mylen, Charlton, Hanson and Orchard Roads who have lodged their objections with TVBC I would like to share some of our objections to the planned change of use of the former Nelson Mobility Shop to a Pizza Hut takeaway.

The proposed takeaway is 1.5m from the ground floor and 3.5m from the bedroom of my neighbour’s house. Even the DEFRA guideline for councils state it is impossible to remove all odours. The aroma of pizza can be smelt before you approach the restaurant or takeaway.

To suffer it 12 hours a day 7 days a week I would suggest the aroma then becomes a stench. Neighbours will suffer it if they wish to use their gardens or have windows open.

Mylen Road is difficult enough to negotiate, two cars cannot pass; it is a rat run passing in and out of parked cars. The takeaway will add 10/15 delivery vehicles at peak times. Drivers will endeavour to do at least two or three trips an hour and are on commission; will this lead to a more sedate driving experience?

From data supplied by an applicant’s consultant and Pizza Hut management it has been established if they open it will lead to nearly a 200 per cent increase in traffic movements during the evenings at a time when resident’s on road parking is at a maximum.

If anyone has experienced attempting to park in the adjacent car park at lunchtime you will know it can be hazardous. This is without the Pizza Hut staff and drivers. Exiting out into Mylen Road is a perilous experience if the layby is being used as your vision of oncoming traffic is completely blocked until you are out into the road. Frequently we see cars being forced to reverse blindly back out into Mylen Road. Like the Haydon’s application the roads here do not have a poor safety record but unfortunately the only data TVBC has at their disposal are those accidents that are reported to the police and involve personal injury. Only residents witness the damaged cars and road rage.

The 26 tonne lorries Pizza Hut use for deliveries will have to deliver to the single door front entrance as the shop no longer has a side entrance from the car park. We have forwarded details and photos of this long and hazardous operation to TVBC.

If any other Andover residents agree then I ask they send their thoughts to Mr Steven Banks, TVBC Planning, Beech Hurst.

Keith Wigmore, Mylen Road, Andover