Representation by David Sewell
- Date submitted
- 19 May 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I have a number of concerns about the Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange. I live in Sharnford, a small village near the site, which already has significant traffic problems. These have been well documented, and a by-pass was identified as a possible solution. This however has not been progressed and worse still, the Freight Interchange Scheme has proposed a new road from the M69 south of Sapcote to join the B4114 just east of Sharnford. This would effectively encourage that site traffic to come through Sharnford. The main road in Sharnford is so narrow, large lorries cannot pass each other on the hill, they have to either mount the pavement or reverse back. Another concern of mine is that the whole concept of a Rail Freight Interchange, claiming to significantly reduce road traffic between the ports and distribution centres, doesn’t add up. Having been in the distribution industry before I retired, I am fully aware of the concept of delivering goods from warehouses to customers or smaller depots, quickly and in smaller quantities. Surely, whilst saving lorries between the ports and this Freight Interchange, wont even more lorries be used getting these goods to customers and other depots? That means clogging up our local roads even more, doesn’t it? Then there is the question of whether we need another Rail Interchange just 16 miles from the one near Rugby. Worse still – the A5 road between the two now has Depots and Distribution Centres the whole way along that route. That road is already a major traffic problem area, and it’s a single carriageway in many places. Lastly there is the effect this development will have on our countryside. It sits right next to Burbage Common, a place where local people visit to enjoy the peace and quite and take in all that the natural world has to offer. This Interchange is huge and will destroy large swathes of our countryside when, in my view, it is unnecessary, will create major traffic problems in the area and significantly raise pollution levels for all of us living in what is currently a very rural environment.