Back to list Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange

Representation by David George Crick

Date submitted
12 June 2023
Submitted by
Members of the public/businesses
  1. The proposed railfreight hub is next to a local amenity, Burbage Common, and I believe the proposed development will have an adverse affect on the local environment, particularly the wildlife that inhabits Burbage Common and Woods (20 species of butterfly, 25 species of mammals, 100 species of fungi, plus many woodland birds and flowering plants). The noise and traffic movements both during construction and when the site is in operation will be detrimental to the Common, its wildlife, and the users who frequent the common for leisure purposes. The proposed development puts at risk an important ecological resource, the only one of its kind in walking distance from Hinckley, making it a vital local amenity available to all. 2. The proposed Link road from M69 junction 2 to the B4668/A47 Leicester Road will generate a significant increase in traffic movements on both the B4668 and the A47 in Hinckley and make access on to these roads even more difficult than it is now. (Turning right into Leicester Road from our residence can necessitate lengthy waiting times as it is). Along with the increase in traffic movements there will be a corresponding increase in traffic noise. The A47 / A447/ B4667 Ashby Road junction in Hinckley (currently controlled by traffic lights) will also be severely impacted making journeys in and out of Hinckley more difficult and producing more air pollution as a result of increased stationary traffic. There are two large schools within close proximity to Leicester Road. Increased traffic movements increases the risk of accidents involving school children and will exacerbate existing traffic congestion at the start and end of the school day. 3. The railway line is not electrified and there are no plans for this to happen anytime soon. Consequently, all train movements will be achieved using diesel locomotives with their associated carbon dioxide and particulate emissions. This is in addition to all the emissions generated by the HGVs that will be using the railfreight interchange and travelling on the local roads. Indeed, it is suspected that a considerable amount of freight will not use the rail at all and the hub will just be used to transfer freight from one HGV to another.