Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council’s leader has written to the new Labour Secretary of Transport, Louise Haigh MP, and new Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, inviting them to meet to discuss a major rail freight scheme.
The controversial scheme, proposed for the outskirts of Hinckley, from developers Tritax Symmetry is earmarked for 650 acres of land outside Hinckley and close to Burbage Common.
Previously, councillors and campaigners have raised concerns about the “permanent blight” this development would have on Burbage Common as well as the impact on residents and businesses with thousands of extra daily heavy good vehicle movements and an extra additional half a million vehicle movements per year the development is poised to generate in and around the area.
Due to the size of the proposed development, it is classed as a ‘Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project’ with the planning decision due to be made by the Secretary of State for Transport after a recommendation made by the Planning Inspectorate.
The Council leader’s letter sets out the concerns the Borough Council and residents have raised about the proposed scheme including:
- Lack of meaningful community engagement and consultation on the proposals
- Impact on Burbage Common and woods which he said would have a devastating impact on the common and people’s ability to enjoy the peaceful open space it provides.
- The huge impact of the 30m high units proposed resulting in the loss of open countryside that separates the village from the motorway, blighting the landscape forever
- The impact of the A47 link road proposed on the Green Wedge separating Hinckley/Burbage from Barwell and Earl Shilton
- Major concerns over the traffic gridlocking local roads at peak times and particularly on the A5
- The significant implications on the local highway network in the event of an incident on the M69
- No confidence in the delivery of the proposed sustainable transport strategy, particularly for connecting Hinckley, Barwell and Earl Shilton employees to the development.
Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council leader, Councillor Stuart Bray said: “I see very little benefit in this scheme. There are no shortage of haulage and warehousing jobs in this part of Leicestershire and the impact of the noise, light and traffic on the surrounding towns and villages will be huge.
“That’s why I’ve invited the new Deputy PM and the new Secretary of State for Transport to visit the area to discuss the proposals with us and see for themselves the major logistics developments in this area.
“We would love to showcase the alternative exciting growth opportunities offered by our existing major logistics developments such as DPD’s UK and International hubs along with MIRA technology park and the new National Conservation and Science Centre at Twycross Zoo and demonstrate why the Rail Freight proposal is so unpopular with our local residents.”
