Traffic and Transport
Traffic and transport implications of the development are recognised as a potential concern to the local community. During the operational phase of the proposed development it is assumed that associated traffic would be restricted to occasional visits from 4x4 vehicles and HGVs (Heavy Goods Vehicles), and as such the effects are expected to be negligible. Detailed assessment of traffic during the operational phase of the proposed development was therefore not considered necessary.
Estimates of traffic generation associated with the construction phase of the project have been derived from first principles on the basis of an indicative nine-month construction programme, with the majority of vehicle movements predicted to occur during the first seven months of this programme. The impact of construction-related traffic on the proposed access routes has been calculated, in percentage terms, relative to the background traffic in the opening year of construction (2011/12). Technical constraints may require the concrete for an individual turbine to be delivered and poured in one day to prevent joints in the mass structure. This creates a short but disproportionate impact and has therefore been considered separately from the impact of the other traffic movements which would be expected to be suspended on the four concrete-pouring days.
Decommissioning effects were also not considered in detail as the baseline conditions are likely to have substantially changed from current conditions, and in any case vehicle movements are likely to be substantially less than for construction due to in-situ retention of some elements of infrastructure
.The results of the assessment indicate that on days when concrete delivery for turbine foundations is not due to take place it is predicted that the maximum number of traffic movements will be experienced in month one of the construction programme, with an average of 62 HGVs per day (31 in and 31 out). However, this represents a worst-case scenario as it has been assumed that all HGV trips generated from the development will use one site entrance, whereas in practice HGV traffic associated with Turbine 3 will utilise a separate site entrance.
On the basis of existing traffic counts, the increase in traffic on local roads during month one of the construction programme will be:
- B3270 – Increase in total traffic flows of 0.5% and an increase in HGVs of 10.8%;
- A327 – Increase in total traffic flows of 0.4% and an increase in HGVs of 11.0%;
- Cutbush Lane – Increase in total traffic flows of 3.0% and an increase in HGVs of 269.6% (note that this % increase is due to the fact that in 2009 only 23 HGV movements were recorded along Cutbush Lane).
Aside from the four days when foundation pouring will take place, the number of HGVs on local roads as a result of the development will steadily decline until the end of month seven of the construction programme, after which no further HGV deliveries are anticipated.
On the four foundation-pouring days, 160 HGV movements (80 in and 80 out) will occur. It is assumed that deliveries of other materials will not take place when concrete is being poured. As a result it is predicted that on these four days there will be a maximum increase in total traffic flows of:
- 1.3% and an increase in HGVs of 27.9% on the B3270;
- The A327 is predicted to see an increase in total traffic of 1.0% and an increase in HGVs of 28.5%;
- Cutbush Lane is predicted to see an increase in total traffic of 7.8% and an increase in HGVs of 695.7%. (note that this % increase is due to the fact that in 2009 only 23 HGV movements were recorded along Cutbush Lane).
The assessment has concluded that an additional 62 HGVs per day on average (or five HGVs per hour over a working day) during the first month of the construction programme together with a declining amount of HGV movements during the following months and an additional 160 HGV’s on four separate days for the concrete delivery, will not be significant in terms of the traffic and transport-related environmental effects identified. The effects considered are severance; driver delay; pedestrian delay; pedestrian amenity, fear and intimidation; and, accidents and safety.
It should be noted that the actual traffic-related effects will be lower than the assessment concludes, as HGV deliveries will be divided between two site entrances rather than the single entrance assumed for the purpose of assessment, and any pedestrian disturbance or road safety concerns caused by construction traffic will be managed through the implementation of a Traffic Management Plan i.e. speed restrictions and working hours.