Representation by Anthony Richard Green
- Date submitted
- 13 May 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
A further rail freight interchange (RFI) cannot be justified in this area; there are already five RFIs with a 25 mile radius of Hinckley. In addition the vast Magna Park complex can be served by Daventry International Railfreight Terminal (DIRFT). RFIs have used Development Consent Orders (DCO) under the pretext that the transfer of freight from road to rail has environmental benefits and thus justifies classification as National Significant Infrastructure projects (NSIP). Whilst, in principal, the concept of ‘Road to Rail’ appears to bring such benefits, it may not be as advantageous as originally conceived. Other sources of carbon emissions from this proposed development, which are listed below, may outweigh the gains of the rail transport: Construction activities including: • Earth moving • Lifting • Construction worker’s transport Operational activities including • Service operations such as maintenance, deliveries and staff sustenance • Transfer of loads from rail to heavy goods vehicles (HGV • Heating and lighting • Transport for 8,400 staff There are concerns that the anticipated freight train traffic will not materialise, and that this development will be used mainly for warehousing and as a ‘road to road’ interchange. With up to 9,000 HGV movements, 8,400 staff commuting journeys and, many service and maintenance vehicle trips each day, this project will have severe impacts on local railways, motorways and roads. The proposed A47 link will increase the density of traffic on this major route, which has yet to feel the full force of the traffic from the ongoing Hollycroft Grange development. The traffic flows in the vicinity of Dodwell’s Island are fragile at most times, and subject to severe delays when perturbations in highway effectiveness occur. A47 traffic must not be increased further. Construction activities associated with the, so called, improvements to the M69 and A47 will also cause severe delays to local people going about their daily business. Over the last few years there has been significant destruction of Leicestershire’s rural landscape and mature trees, as land is cleared alongside the A5 to the west of Hinckley. Now we are faced with further obliteration of ancient trees and pristine countryside to enable the doubtful benefits of the proposed HNRFI. The developers claim that they will plant large numbers of new trees in mitigation, but it is obvious that many years must elapse before these saplings have developed sufficiently to replace the ecosystems of those trees which have been obliterated in the name of progress. Many local people are extremely saddened by the ongoing obliteration of Leicestershire’s countryside and its remaining trees. It is time to draw a line on green field construction to preserve what remains of this once delightful county. Recent rain has resulted in flooding within the area that is bounded by the DCO. This is by no means an unusual situation and this rainfall was not excessive; yet Tritax, the aspirant developers, have declared this location to be at low risk of flooding. Surely Tritax’s flood risk study is flawed and should be questioned. Local residents have experience of the real flood risk and are deeply worried about the consequences of replacing a vast area of farmland with concrete, steel and tarmac.