Representation by Barbara Lees
- Date submitted
- 25 May 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
1.Would set a precedent siting a rail freight terminal and warehouses on a site described as 'Aston Flamville wooded farmland' ( Blaby District landscape and settlement character assessment 2020) which forms part of the rural landscape surrounding Burbage Common and Woods a SSSI. Planning rules in this area and the adjacent Elmesthorpe Floodplain have always been strictly enforced and limited by Blaby District Council. In addition to this a recent case locally in Hinckley and Bosworth Appeal Ref: APP/K2420/W/20/3260227 Land off Sketchley Lane, Burbage, Hinckley, Leicestershire LE10 3HU regarding the development of warehouses and houses on agricultural land was rejected by the Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State on the grounds that 'The appeal site lies within the countryside and I have found that the proposed development would result in substantial harm to its intrinsic value and open character. Notwithstanding its contribution to economic growth, I find that the proposal would conflict with SADMDPD Policy DM4.' This proposed site is immediately adjacent to Burbage Common and Woods an important resource for health and wellbeing not only for local residents in Hinckley, Barwell, Earl Shilton, Elmesthorpe and surrounding villages but also for people from further afield such as Leicester and Birmingham - its development would have a very negative effect on the Common and Woods. There would be a loss of 5 footpaths/bridleways and also Burbage Common Road used by pedestrians and riders, the remaining bridleway, adjacent to the M69, is not accessible to the majority of people using the current footpaths and would be an unpleasant experience with horses and dogs. 2, There are 4 other rail freight terminals within 35 miles of this site - 3 of which are built on 'brown field' sites DIRFT, Birch Coppice and Hams Hall - the other, East Midlands Gateway, is immediately adjacent to East Midlands Airport and is part of the Freeport area. There is a further site under construction in Northamptonshire and one proposed near Toyota on the A50 near Derby - again part of the Freeport area. All of these already serve the port of Felixstowe among others including Southampton and Tilbury. 3. The proposed rail operator (Maritime) already operates Birch Coppice, East Midlands Gateway, Hams Hall and will operate the Segro site in Northamptonshire -there would seem to be little strategic value from the rail point of view to having an additional site in such close proximity to their others. The development at Magna Park is already served by the Daventry Railfreight Terminal. What are the guarantees this would be used as a rail freight terminal - I refer to the Prologis Park at Coventry built on a brown field site which was proposed in the District Plan for Coventry in 2001 to operate freight via its rail link rather than road - no trains are timetabled to or from here. 4.At least 1500 acres of farmland has been lost to warehouse development in south west Leicestershire along the A5 corridor already.The loss of another 440 acres in a landscape immediately adjacent to Burbage Common and Woods would be very detrimental to both local people and the wildlife that lives in the fields, the Common, the 19 kms of hedgerows, over 100 mature trees and that also use the area as a wildlife corridor. There are at least 4 species of red listed birds - tree sparrow, grey partridge, lapwing and skylark, owls, badgers, a variety of bats, brown hares, slow worms, water voles, great crested newts, sightings of otters on occasions in the watercourses and surroundings. The rail line runs through the Common and the increase in freight trains to 32 a day, constant illumination and noise created by a warehouse site in operation 24 hours a day will disturb the circadian rhythms of these species and also humans and have a detrimental effect on their survival by interfering with foraging patterns, reproduction and communication (Stone, E..L., 2009, p,1123-1127. and Da Silva, A. 2015, Royal Society Publication). Sir David Attenborough remarked in his most recent series 'Wild Isles' on the loss of over 90% of wildflower meadow habitats since he was a boy, I sincerely hope we will not lose this farmland habitat for the sake of our children and future generations to say nothing of the loss of land for growing crops and grazing animals. 5. From a personal point of view I have lived in Elmesthorpe for nearly 32 years in that time I have used all the footpaths, bridleways and Burbage Common Road both with my children and on daily dog walks to access Burbage Common and Woods. I would not walk down the B581 to access the new bridleway as the pavement is narrow and the road too busy to walk safely with dogs or children. I would therefore have to use my car daily to take the dogs for a walk and I would not go to Burbage Common as the area would be adjacent to a noisy industrial site, The additional land adjacent to the new link road proposed as mitigation is not really a suitable replacement for what would be lost. The 24 hour operation of this site in the countryside but adjacent to several settlements would cause light and noise disturbance for us who live locally, The roads are already very busy and the siting of the new link road alongside the Common and joining Leicester Rd immediately opposite the Rugby, Tennis, Squash, Football and Cricket clubs will make it dangerous for everyone using the facilities. I feel this is not a strategic location and is not needed in a largely agricultural area -I don't feel brown field sites lying adjacent to the Ivanhoe Line have been explored fully enough. The rail line is not electrified and serves Croft Quarry which is planned to handle infill waste from the HS2 project - I do not see how these extra trains can be timetabled particularly with the disruption at the level crossing in Narborough already.