Due to the restricted nature of Plaidy Lane and its inability to accommodate larger vehicles, it is proposed to deploy a dumper truck to ferry materials between the site and a transfer point on Hay Lane where the highway becomes two lanes.
Plaidy Lane measures 2.2 mts wide in various locations between the application site and Hay Lane, however the applicant’s Method Statement proposes the use of a 10 ton tipper/ dumper which is typically around 2.6 mts wide.
Assuming the maximum size of vehicle able to use Plaidy Lane is 1.9 mts wide with a 3 tonne payload and that around 2,500 cubic metres (4,200 tonnes) of spoil needs to be carried away, then this equates to at least 1,400 return trips to remove just the waste from site before considering those trips required to deliver personnel, plant and construction materials.
The plans also show the installation of Heras fencing on the road surface fronting the plot. This would render the lane impassible by cars or vans whilst in place and, in saying that “the lane would not be required to be closed for long periods”, the applicant significantly understates the impact the proposed works would have on users of Plaidy Lane bearing in mind the difficulty of passing a vehicle even on foot.
VW Transporter Van passing Chough Rock site on right
Chough Rock - Looe 