“Grave concerns” about the impact of the Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange (HNRFI) have again been raised by Blaby District Council.
Councillor Terry Richardson, Council Leader, and Councillor Ben Taylor, Portfolio Holder for Planning, outline issues in a new letter to government.
Both have written to Heidi Alexander MP, following her recent appointment as Secretary of State for Transport. They call for an early decision to reject the plans.
The 662-acre HNRFI scheme from developers Tritax Symmetry is considered a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project.
It features a rail hub and 850,000 sq m of warehousing on countryside southwest of Elmesthorpe. The area lies between the M69 and Leicester to Birmingham train line.
It is due to be decided by Ms Alexander following a lengthy review by the Planning Inspectorate.
Last September, her predecessor, Louise Haigh MP, said she was ‘minded to refuse’ the scheme. However, she gave Tritax more time to submit evidence in support of their application.
With those documents received, interested parties have until February 7 to make further comments.
The letter highlights various negative impacts, most notably on the overloaded surrounding motorway network. It says the scheme could stifle, not encourage economic growth.
Ms Alexander is urged to “carefully consider the negative social, environmental and economic impacts of the HNRF” and “consider the highways infrastructure mitigation that is required in this part of the region.”
The Councillors say: “We hope that the recommendation provided by the examining authority and the total lack of effort on behalf of the applicant to mitigate the issues raised will lead you to reach the same conclusion as your predecessor.
“This extended wait for a decision is having a material impact on local plan making but more importantly is causing a huge amount of stress to the residents in this area especially those under threat of losing their homes due to compulsory purchase.”
Councillor Ben Taylor said: “We have always said this scheme would destroy vast swathes of countryside and ruin the rural character of our District forever. We have also raised continual concerns about the huge negative effects it would have on our highways and motorways and the lack of measures from Tritax to overcome these.
“As the deadline for the decision on the HNRFI scheme approaches and with a new Secretary of State for Transport in place, we felt we should again express our grave concerns. We hope Ms Alexander takes these on board and agrees with the previous position that the scheme should be rejected.”
A decision is due on the HNRFI by 10 March.
