Representation by Robert Bloom
- Date submitted
- 18 June 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I am submitting my views on the proposed Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange on the sole understanding that this 'consultation' is not merely a 'box-ticking exercise', which simply goes through the motions of gathering comments from interested parties before subsequently ignoring them. Accordingly, I wish to register my strong opposition to the project based on the following principal issues and impacts: Definable need for the project: I would question that the specific, definable need for this project has been demonstrated beyond doubt by Tritax Symmetry. I believe that existing and anticipated demands can be be met through the numerous freight hubs already in place / under development / subject to existing expansion schemes within the local area – such as DIRFT, Magna Park, East Midlands Gateway, Hams Hall Rail Freight Terminal. Impact on the Local Highways infrastructure: Despite representations by the developer that the majority of traffic access to the proposed site will be by a modified junction 2 of the M69, drivers will inevitably take the most convenient route for their particular journey. By no means will these necessarily be by the M69. It is inevitable that a significant proportion of the anticipated 9000 HGV and 8400 employee movements per day will add considerably more traffic to a local highways infrastructure that it is already at breaking point. And even this assumes that no accidents / closures will ever occur either on the M69 or the potentially remodelled junction 'serving' the proposed site. A high proportion of the major – as well as some minor - roads in the area are already heavily congested. As a result, extensive tailbacks of stationary traffic - much of it diesel powered HGVs – are currently experienced by the local community on a daily basis. This is particularly evident on and around the town's Perimeter Road (A47). By way of example, from my home in Ashby Grange I currently witness tailbacks of more than 250 metres along Ashby Road at its intersection with Normandy Way (Hinckley Perimeter Road) every work day morning and evening. This arterial route (Perimeter Road) is already subject to several active and proposed new building developments, including the 850 property scheme already underway by Bloor Homes, as well as a further initial 500 homes proposed by Richborough Estates at Normandy Way's junction with Stoke Road. These, in combination with the 2500 homes Barwell SUE project will clearly overwhelm the highway infrastructure to the north of Hinckley, even before any additional traffic emanating from the proposed Rail Freight Hub development. Similar situations are repeated elsewhere throughput the borough; notably along the A5, which is already recognised as a further arterial route that requires major upgrading in the light of burgeoning distribution, logistics and housing developments along its path. Further traffic – both from the construction and operation of the proposed site will inevitably lead to gridlock throughout the Hinckley area for major periods of the day – with an attendant major impact on the quality of life, and considerable inconvenience, to residents of the borough. Detrimental Impact on the Environment: Development of this greenfield site will necessarily involve extensive diesel road traffic on what is an already highly congested local highways infrastructure (courtesy of existing major distribution hubs in the local area) – not to mention the associated diesel engined site vehicle movements throughout the construction phase. This is further exacerbated on completion, by the 16 diesel hauled freight trains expected per day. In addition to the massive carbon footprint associated with the above, I have major concerns regarding increased noise and light pollution resulting from the site's proposed round the clock operations, 365 days per year – all in close proximity to one of Hinckley's few community green spaces, the popular and well-used Burbage Common. There are already numerous building developments being relentlessly progressed throughout Hinckley and the surrounding area. Such rampant urbanisation of the countryside is irrevocably changing the borough's character - by destroying both a key element and attraction of the area. The proposed Rail hub development would only serve to further accelerate and exacerbate this inexorable degeneration.