Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

Progress on their new distribution warehouse.
At the factory, production of frosted cornflakes ceased in September and the product was transferred to the CPUK plant on the Wirral. Production has continued since on the other two lines at a reduced rate. Last week commissioning of one of the new lines started and output will increase steadily over the next 3 months with the balance of the new volume in place by October this year.

The company has appointed a new local haulier, UFD group. Although they are Bristol based, some of their drivers are local. All the drivers have been given a personal brief about the commitments that CPUK managers have made to the community. These include the importance of obeying the rules of the road, looking out for local hot spots such as schools etc. Local residents have been invited to report any infringements and these will be taken up with the driver concerned.

Regarding transport strategy, until the new warehouse is opened, all the finished product has to go to the company’s Hertfordshire warehouse. Outbound traffic will not go through Holt, Staverton or Hilperton at all. The route to/from the motorway will be to head towards Bath, turn right at Leigh Park and head for Corsham via 5-ways. They will then take the A4 to Chippenham then the A350 to J17 on the M4. Once the new warehouse is open, outbound and inbound traffic will be split equally between Holt and Staverton/Hilperton.

Once the Hilperton relief road is complete, all the in & outbound traffic will go via that route.

Regarding in-bound traffic, CPUK are talking with all bulk suppliers (wheat and packaging) about them adopting this route from J17. These measures should mean a net reduction in CPUK traffic through the local villages from current and historic levels.