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Friday, 3rd September 2010

Bus route work halted

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Published Date:
04 December 2009
Work on a controversial bus route has been halted after a Gosport woman won the right to appeal against the scheme.

Preparation work for the proposed £20m bus route on old railway tracks between Gosport and Fareham will now be on hold until a court decides if it can go ahead.

Last month a judge in London gave the go-ahead to the Bus Rapid Transit scheme after
Viv Morge took Hampshire County Council to court over the plans, saying they would damage wildlife and have a negative impact on neighbours.

But the Court of Appeal has now given Mrs Morge permission to appeal against the decision - and it will now go to court for a second time. The court also ordered work to stop until the case is resolved.

Miss Morge 57, who lives less than 100 yards from the bus corridor in Wych Lane, Bridgemary said: 'I'm please. I was upset when it didn't go through but my solicitor has been really working hard on it and I feel better now.

'It's a lot of money to be wasted on something that's not going to be used. It's just going to make the road traffic congestion worse.

'People aren't going to get on a bus to go to Fareham , especially if they have children. The council have to stop building things. We can't have any more development down here.

'They are taking all the greenery away. We just don't need a great big road on a single railway track. What they are doing is silly.

'I just don't know why they don't do something with the Stubbington by-pass. Or why don't they do something with the Quay roundabout in Fareham?

'That's where all the traffic congestion problems are.

'These little animals come along and make their home. The badgers are a protected species, but nobody seems to know that. I'm just fighting for them.

'What right has a human being got to take animals lives for a road that goes nowhere?

'There are a lot of houses that back on to this railway line.

'I'm just trying to save a bit of the planet. I think we have got enough roads.'

Solicitor Graeme Swain, who has been representing Mrs Morge in court, said: 'Yesterday, the Court of Appeal in London gave permission to Mrs Morge to appeal the decision to refuse to quash the planning consent for the bus transport scheme along the old railway line between Fareham and Gosport.

'The Court also granted an injunction to stop the development of the former railway line until the outcome of the appeal is known or the order is modified or discharged.

'The Court did so having decided that all three grounds for appeal have a real prospect of success.



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  • Last Updated: 04 December 2009 9:31 AM
  • Source: The News
  • Location: Portsmouth
 
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1

Juggernaut,

04/12/2009 09:39:46
Oh for crying out loud.

"'These little animals come along and make their home. The badgers are a protected species, but nobody seems to know that. I'm just fighting for them.

'What right has a human being got to take animals lives for a road that goes nowhere?

'There are a lot of houses that back on to this railway line.

'I'm just trying to save a bit of the planet. I think we have got enough roads.'"



One of these statements is the truth behind her action. I'll leave you to decide which is the real one.
2

Burlington Bertie,

04/12/2009 10:43:31
Bring back the railway between Gosport and Fareham!

It would be better used than buses.
3

bladesblue,

Fareham 04/12/2009 10:48:42
Just think, people are wondering why we do not have adequate power generation, railways, public transport.
If this is an example of planning for public good it is amazing we even have a house to live in, Oh sorry, there are 10s of thousands who do not have a home because planning is held up for a bat or person.
By the time even one power station is given planning permission the country will be reduced to zero electricity because all the existing stations have been closed.
4

bringbackcheappintsatthebux,

04/12/2009 11:18:21
Miss Morge, do you have nothing better to do? Pathetic!
5

Royal Blue,

Reading 04/12/2009 12:23:41
Is anyone remotely interested at present in the wildlife that thrives in those areas of South Hampshire which must be concreted over to provide the additional dwellings needed to meet government targets?
I presume the answer is not just yet. That is, not until the new residents suddenly and collectively cultivate a deep desire in the welfare of the fauna and flora in their back yards. If the legal process, when exhausted, finds favour with Miss Morge presumably the government will be forced to review its wild life risk assessments of new sites. It seems that a policy of stringent concern for the environment pursued by this government may well rebound on them leaving their housing plans in tatters. Not that they will care. I expect them to take full advantage of an enforced get-out clause early next year.
6

Royal Blue,

Reading 04/12/2009 12:46:22
Read the report 'Reservoir plan on hold as enquiry looms'. Portsmouth Water says its plans to build a large reservoir at Havant Thicket to cater for the needs of an increasing population have been called in by the government. What other reason do they give to justify the need for the reservoir? The answer is because extracting water from the River Itchen is no longer considered viable because of the impact on wild life. I rest my case.
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this-isnt-news,

04/12/2009 13:09:23
How is that a conclusive argument Royal Blue? That’s an incredibly stupid analysis. Do you believe that because all elephants are grey, all grey things are elephants?

The fact is the positive benefits of this scheme far outweigh the negatives. Its not as if this narrow strip of land is some form of wildlife haven, it’s a post industrial wasteland. Nothing exists there that does not exist in abundance elsewhere. Essentially is not an argument about wildlife, its a few people trying desperately to stop the scheme for their own selfish reasons despite the huge numbers who would benefit. In such a situation they cling to any argument, however weak, which could support their case.

Bladesblue you’re absolutely right the planning system is fraught with this. Successive governments have attempted to introduce public participation and consultation into the planning system in a bodged up attempt to make it more democratic. Unfortunately there are always people who refuse to accept, because they are too selfish or stupid, that things have to be built which may disadvantage themselves but bring huge benefits to infinitely more. Those people really do disgust me.
8

Andy12C,

04/12/2009 13:14:49
how much longer is this woman going to drag this on at stupid cost to the taxpayer.

Stop trying to say your doing it for the animals when clearly they are being looked after and moved and just move house if you dont want to live next to the bus lane!
9

Dick B,

Fareham 04/12/2009 15:40:23
I would have thought a dedicated cycle path along the old railway track would be more useful, and more used.
10

Royal Blue,

Reading 04/12/2009 15:43:40
this-isnt-news

I agree entirely with your second paragraph which mirrors exactly my own view of the situation, which I expressed in an earlier thread on this matter. I think you were mislead by my opening remarks into believing I am a proponent of the objection rather than the exact opposite. Reading it the way you did makes no sense as an argument, let alone a definitive one, in support of the objection. In fact, it was meant to be read as a rather sarcastic commentary on the way over-concern for the environment impinges on our everyday lives and not always for the good of the community. By the way I don't know about elephants but I do believe every tortoise is a turtle, but not every turtle is a tortoise!
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