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Planners to decide on coach firm's car park
(February 12, 2010)ONE of Warminster's more successful home-grown businesses in recent
years has been R&R Coaches of Bishopstrow, commonly called Beeline.
Its main operating site close to Boreham crossroads is bordered on three sides by the River Wylye which somewhat limits its geographical expansion although the business has expanded over the years along with the size of coaches.
Its latest retrospective application to Wiltshire Council for additional parking has been recommended for refusal purely on highway safety grounds.
The suggestion of the officers is that there could be dangers as cars enter and exit the parking spaces along the road to Sutton Veny.
''I think they should lay off Beeline as people arriving for work have to park their cars somewhere,'' said former county councillor Steve Dancey.
''Before the new bays were installed there was much more of a parking problem on the main road east of Boreham crossroads as workers parked on the road side - also causing potential hazards.
''Although it isn't a planning consideration it should be understood that those parking their cars are almost all likely to be professional drivers of coaches employed by a highly regarded company with high standards - not likely to cause road accidents.''
Hopefully the councillors will see sense and allow this application.
*Beeline is contracted by the council to provide school buses
and also by the MoD for troop transport.
Coaches have long been an established activity in this part of Warminster - our hazy photo, taken in 1964, shows old-style coaches of Berridges behind what is now Marsh and Chalfont - about 200 yards from the application site.
Its main operating site close to Boreham crossroads is bordered on three sides by the River Wylye which somewhat limits its geographical expansion although the business has expanded over the years along with the size of coaches.
Its latest retrospective application to Wiltshire Council for additional parking has been recommended for refusal purely on highway safety grounds.
The suggestion of the officers is that there could be dangers as cars enter and exit the parking spaces along the road to Sutton Veny.
''I think they should lay off Beeline as people arriving for work have to park their cars somewhere,'' said former county councillor Steve Dancey.
''Before the new bays were installed there was much more of a parking problem on the main road east of Boreham crossroads as workers parked on the road side - also causing potential hazards.
''Although it isn't a planning consideration it should be understood that those parking their cars are almost all likely to be professional drivers of coaches employed by a highly regarded company with high standards - not likely to cause road accidents.''
Hopefully the councillors will see sense and allow this application.
*Beeline is contracted by the council to provide school buses
and also by the MoD for troop transport.Coaches have long been an established activity in this part of Warminster - our hazy photo, taken in 1964, shows old-style coaches of Berridges behind what is now Marsh and Chalfont - about 200 yards from the application site.