Representation by Office of Alberto Costa MP (Office of Alberto Costa MP)
- Date submitted
- 13 June 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Like many of my constituents, I am deeply concerned about a number of aspects of the proposals for the Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange (HNRFI). One of the primary concerns is the proposal's environmental impact and the lack of suitable mitigating factors. The site is planned to be situated in close proximity to Burbage Common and Burbage Wood, a designated site of Special Scientific Interest. Both the Common and Wood would likely be detrimentally affected by this development and therefore further consideration must be given to the impact this may have. A further area of concern is the potential to overburdening of local infrastructure in the surrounding villages. Many of the villages closest to the proposed site are rural in nature and therefore there are widespread concerns that local, country roads will become too busy with traffic leading to gridlock in village centres. While I appreciate that the site in question is designed to cater for freight train deliveries, as opposed to a reliance on HGVs, little consideration appears to have been given to the transport arrangements for the c. 8,000 employees that the applicant has suggested will be employed on the site. Additionally, consideration should be given to the potential impact on passengers using Narborough Railway Station. This is the only train station in my constituency, and therefore it is an important part of the local infrastructure in allowing my constituents to travel to Leicester, Birmingham and further afield. Given Narborough's history as a Victorian-era station it is situated almost in the centre of the village of Narborough; therefore one of the main roads through the village runs over the existing train line whereby there is presently a level crossing. There is widespread concern that further freight train usage on this already busy line will lead to further delays in the level crossing being down at Narborough, alongside a potential increase in disruption it will cause to rail passengers using the station. These are my initial comments. I look forward to making further representations during the Examination stage of the application.