An MP has slammed proposals for a new M3 service station in Basingstoke during a fresh consultation period.
Back in 2017, plans were submitted to Basingstoke and Deane Council to build a 100-room hotel, a drive-thru Costa Coffee, petrol station and a shop on agricultural land to the south of Junction 6 of the M3.
The proposal, put forward by Moto Hospitality, would also involve alterations to the roundabout and slip roads of the current junction.
This was met with much criticism at the time, including from Basingstoke MP Maria Miller.
Now a further period of public consultation has followed the submission by Moto of additional details including a package of highways information.
As a result, the MP wrote to the council to share her objections.
"It is clear that locating an off-line motorway station at junction 6 will significantly increase the volume of traffic using the junction, and however the entry and exit roads to the MSA are configured, there will be a higher risk of congestion and accidents than currently exists," the letter read.
"The proposed MSA would also attract local traffic, adding to traffic flows around the junction and also at the Black Dam roundabout and M3 spur road.
"I have seen nothing in the newly submitted documents to change my view that there are serious concerns about the proposed motorway service area, in particular with regard to road safety and congestion."
Moto Hospitality states the proposal will create 215 permanent jobs, as well as more in the construction phase of the project.
The site will cover 21.34 hectares of land and will provide 615 car spaces, 50 light good vehicle spaces, 24 motorcycle spaces and 18 caravan spaces.
RELATED: Plan for new M3 service station including 100-room hotel at Basingstoke
The MP's letter continued: "I also remain very concerned about the significant additional burden the proposed MSA, including a 100 bedroom hotel, would add for the Basingstoke Sewage Treatment Works at Chineham and it would in turn create a pollution risk for the water quality of the River Loddon, where hard work by Thames Water and the Environment Agency has seen a significant improvement in recent years.
"More than 3,000 residents signed a Parliamentary Petition opposing this application (and other proposals for a new MSA at Junction 7 of the M3), which I presented formally to Parliament on 24 April 2018."
She added that thousands of Basingstoke residents signed a petition objecting to this proposal.
For more information on the plan and to comment, go to https://planning.basingstoke.gov.uk/online-applications/ and search for the planning reference code 17/03487/FUL.
Comments must reach Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council by May 20, 2020.
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