F1 News: Mercedes Responds To Huge Backlash From "Furious" Local Businesses

Mercedes has responded to local complaints over plans to expand their Brackley plant.

The Mercedes Formula 1 team embarked on an expansion project for their Brackley plant in 2023, aiming to transform it into a tech-forward hub. However, this initiative has been met with considerable opposition from the surrounding business community, concerned about operational disruptions.

Key Takeaways

• Concerns Over Traffic Increase and Access Issues: The plan to redirect the primary access to the F1 campus through a smaller industrial road is expected to cause a substantial rise in traffic. Local business owners are alarmed, fearing this change will disrupt their access and daily activities.
• Feeling of Neglect Among Local Entrepreneurs: Business owners along the affected road express a strong sense of being ignored in Mercedes' expansion plans. They highlight a lack of direct communication and consultation, feeling overshadowed by the corporate giant's agenda.
• Mercedes' Outreach and Damage Control Efforts: Facing mounting criticism, Mercedes has underscored their commitment to community engagement. They have detailed their consultations with local authorities and emergency services, aiming to minimise the negative impact on local businesses and uphold good community relations.

Mercedes Press Image

Mercedes' Formula 1 team's ambitious expansion of their Brackley facility in 2023 has not gone unnoticed, especially by the local business community, who are raising their concerns. At the heart of the issue is the proposed rerouting of traffic through a less-travelled industrial road, which many believe will lead to significant traffic congestion, hampering their businesses.

A local businessman expressed his community's frustrations to the Northampton Chronicle, as quoted by GPBlog: 

"Everyone is furious at the idea that this is going to happen. At the moment, we all have free access, which means we have no problems getting staff or commercial vehicles in."

The local business owners feel that their interests have been sidelined. One particularly outspoken entrepreneur remarked:

"It is a case of 'we are Mercedes and we do what we want, just accept it'. That's just very disrespectful to businesses that have been here as long as they have." 

Responding to the backlash, Mercedes has ensured their procedural diligence and stakeholder engagement. They have highlighted extensive consultations with relevant authorities and emergency services to ensure that their expansion plan is executed with minimal disruption to the local community. A spokesperson for Mercedes explained:

"In addition, we have consulted extensively with both the local roads authority and the National Highways Agency, who have checked and verified our independent traffic studies.

"The concerns raised by the specialist roads consultant employed by one of the local companies have been studied to ensure that the proposed works have the least possible impact on businesses.

"As a major employer in Brackley, we always strive to maintain a good relationship and dialogue with our stakeholders and to maximise our positive impact on the local environment. We will continue to do the same during this process."