Representation by Sylvia Soden
- Date submitted
- 20 June 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I strongly object to the proposed HNRFI for the following reasons:- Destruction of our countryside, wildlife, and agricultural land is escalating at an alarming rate and at a time when we should be protecting and conserving all natural habitat before it is too late. The proposed hub would destroy over 400 acres of much needed agricultural farmland which has public access by way of footpaths, bridleways and roads to adjacent Burbage Common and wood - a SSSI and ancient woodland. This farmland provides a habitat for a wide variety of birds and mammals, and the hedgerows and ponds form crucial wildlife corridors. Hinckley and surrounding villages are already overdeveloped and the quality of life for local residents has been greatly diminished in recent years. Traffic, noise, air and light pollution are all a real problem and are continuing to increase. The proposed hub would exacerbate all these problems and would have a severe detrimental effect on both people and wildlife. The hub would result in thousands of additional traffic movements every day converging on Hinckley with all major routes (already heavily congested) being clogged up even further with HGVs, delivery vans, couriers, and workers' vehicles. There are already rail freight terminals in close proximity to the proposed hub - Daventry International Railfreight Terminal, Hams Hall Terminal and East Midlands Gateway. The proposed hub, far from taking traffic off the roads, would actually mean a massive increase of traffic all concentrated in the Hinckley area with the resultant congestion and pollution. There will also be more pollution caused by railway diesel engines. We are being constantly urged to dramatically change our lives and look after nature in the name of combatting climate change and global warming, and so to allow this project to go ahead would be completely at odds with everything we are trying to achieve. I urge you to reject this totally unsuitable and unwanted development.