Representation by Miriam Spring Davies
- Date submitted
- 9 January 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
The negative aspects of this proposal absolutely annihilate any suggested positive, I will list my very real concerns below: - The sheer industrial scale of Mallard Pass – Rutland is the smallest county in the UK. This is an absolutely enormous percentage of countryside surrounding and engulfing the directly affected villages – with the potential to grow. If approved, this has the very real potential to be extended further, where will it end? - Visual impact - instead of thriving countryside, our views will be field to glass panels and boundaries. To choose to live in the country, is purposeful. This will catastrophically impact the scenery and change the feeling of our entire area. The size of these plates of glass, along with their height is going to be monstrous. - Land use – as a Nation, we should whole heartedly encourage landowners to use land to its potential, to maintain UK farming. It is completely illogical to build upon land that has the precious ability to grow crops. There is the option to locate solar panels on brownfield sites, why knowingly destroy arable land? The choice to ‘shop local’ is becoming harder and harder, as a nation, we must nurture the ability to grow our own food, not reduce it! - Environmental – this will directly adversely impact wildlife and ecosystems. The fact is, wide open spaces will be replaced with sheets of glass. It is not natural and is not an encouraging environment for life to grow and thrive. The conservation and preservation of animals, their habitats and their homes, is more important than ever. - Recreation – Bridleways will change here forever; I have been informed of various stables that run the risk of closure due to the construction of Mallard Pass. Walkers, cyclists, runners, will be met with an industrialised space. We have all been encouraged to ‘get outside’ during the pandemic, mental health has hinged on this fact and the necessity to walk in open green spaces. Mallard Pass will directly affect the option to do this. - The increased risk of flooding in an area prone to this. - Construction – the stream of traffic during the construction phase will disturb directly affected villages as well as the expanded route to the construction sites. It will also have a load bearing impact on these back roads, causing damage. I have now learned of the options for routes the lorries will be taking to reach access points. Local, countryside roads are not built for this sort of constant, heavy traffic. There will be the necessity to widen the roads, according to Mallard Pass, to accommodate this two-way continuous traffic. This is completely horrifying, knowing these roads well, this will be irreversibly destructive in itself. As well as the noise and disruption it will cause to villages and villagers.