CONTROVERSIAL plans to lift restrictions on the number of lorry movements from Andover Business Park have been recommended for approval by council chiefs.

But proposals have sparked outrage among residents in surrounding villages, who fear their communities will become “rat runs” if plans are given the green light.

The plans, submitted by Goodman Real Estate Ltd, are due to be discussed by Test Valley Borough Council’s Northern Area Planning Committee tonight.

The investment company has proposed modifying a condition that Andover Business Park, near Weyhill, have a Heavy Commercial Vehicle (HCV) Traffic Demand Management System and a cap of 85 HCVs leaving the site each hour.

The condition was imposed as part of the original planning application for the site, granted in 2007.

It was also reaffirmed in 2009, when Co-op were granted permission to build their large distribution centre, nicknamed ‘the mega shed’, on the site.

But Goodman’s now want to lift the cap, citing “commercial reasons”.

In a report produced by TVBC, the applicant claims that even if the condition is removed, the site is “not projected” to exceed the cap.

The report goes on to state that the cap was originally proposed to “mitigate”

Highways England, who raised concerns about the increased traffic on the A303 at the time. However the authority has not submitted any objection to the latest plan.

The proposals have caused major controversy among civic leaders in villages surrounding the site, including Abbotts Ann, Monxton and Penton Mewsey.

All three parish councils have submitted strong objections, while Appleshaw, Penton Grafton, Fyfield, Grateley and Quarley parish councils have all raised concerns.

Both Abbotts Ann and Penton Mewsey parish councils say an increase in traffic could have a “knockon effect” on their villages and they fear vehicles “rat running” through their communities as a result.

Meanwhile TVBC has also received 34 individual letters of objections from residents.

Concerns include an increase in traffic, damage to the surrounding road network and congestion on the Hundred Acre Roundabout.

Despite the concerns, council officers have recommended councillors should pass through the modification plans at Thursday night’s meeting.

The report concludes: “The updated modelling forecasts fewer traffic movements than originally predicted, and does not predict there being more than 85 HCV movements per hour even once the Business Park is fully occupied.

“Having regard to the evidence submitted, Highways England and HCC as Highway Authority have raised no objection to the proposed removal of the obligation and do not identify any highway safety concerns.

“The obligation is creating difficulties in attracting occupants for the vacant parts of the site and its removal would address this, supporting the RLP policy aims of achieving significant employment on the Business Park site, and economic growth generally.”