Back to list Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange

Representation by Cathie Gibbens

Date submitted
20 June 2023
Submitted by
Members of the public/businesses
  1. The area in which this development is proposed is already served by a large number of existing or agreed distribution centres, including rail freight interchanges. This includes: · Northampton Gateway RFI · West Midlands RFI · Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT) · Prologis Park RFI · Hams Hall RFI · East Midlands RFI · Magna Park (including extension) (Not directly rail linked, but uses DIRFT facilities and could conceivably be rail linked in the future. · Birch Coppice RFI I understand at least one of these (the DIRFT) is currently operating significantly under-capacity. 2. Burbage Common and Woods (the Common) comprises Burbage Common, Sheepy and Burbage Woods, Elmesthorpe Plantation and Smenell Field. It is the district’s prime countryside site and is located on the western side of the proposed development. The site is public access land and is a rich mix of semi-natural woodland and unspoilt grassland covering over 80 hectares. The woodlands are some of the only remaining fragments of Hinckley Forest, which dates back to mediaeval times and they are still managed by traditional methods. There is currently a rich variety of flora and fauna at the common including 20 species of butterflies, many species of flowering plants, 100 species of fungi and over 30 species of mammals and birds including buzzards, sparrow-hawks, nuthatches, jays and great spotted woodpeckers. There are great crested newts using ponds close to the site, and a badger sett on the edge of the site. The site is used heavily by local and wider populations for several recreational activities including walking, horse riding, orienteering, wildlife study, environmental activities and education. It is a highly valued local and regional public asset. Hundreds of people visit the Common every day and thousands attend the annual open days there. 3. The site will impose significantly on the setting of the Fosse villages which are historic quarrying villages, retaining much of their historical buildings. Blacksmiths Cottage in Sapcote which is situated within the DCO area, is the original village blacksmith’s forge and still retains the mounting block. It is the main reason for the narrow footpath and ‘S’ bend in the centre of the village. Tritax have failed to explain how this will be impacted by footpath widening. Aston Flamville has conservation village status. 4. Noise pollution will be considerable. Given the nature of noise emitted by freight trains and engines whilst travelling, the nature of the noise generated by shunting etc, the geography of the area and the railway being largely on an embankment, train noise travels long distances, and even further under some common meteorological conditions. 5. The proposed site lies on higher ground in an area already subject to flooding and slopes down towards the Fosse villages. The site is currently farmland. Concreting over such a large area is likely to lead to excessive run off into the villages below the site, which will inevitably result in flooding of residential properties. 6. The proposed site is adjacent to at least one environmentally sensitive area (the Common) and either adjacent to, or within sight and sound of, large residential areas and settlements (Hinckley, Burbage, Stoney Stanton, Sapcote, Aston Flamville, Earl Shilton, Elmesthorpe, Barwell and the traveller site and mobile home site at Aston Firs.) 7. There will be a significant increase in emissions of pollutants both during construction and then in the operation of the SRFI. The site is in an area that is renowned for the distinctiveness of its local weather - particularly fog and mist - which will exacerbate air quality issues. 8. Unemployment levels are low in the area. The workforce will have to be bussed in from the deprived areas that Tritax suggest will supply the staff for the site. The cycle routes will also have limited benefit since the employees are likely to commute from a large distance away. 9. There are several rail issues that do not appear to have been considered such as: · The junction of the line with the Midland Main Line just south of Leicester (at Wigston) is already heavily congested. · The impact of long slow freight trains crossing the East Coast Main Line (near Peterborough), or the Midland Main Line (Leicester) or West Coast Main Line (Nuneaton) · The impact of long slow trains on the level crossing in the village of Narborough. · The time taken for freight trains to slow and stand before entering the site. · The impact of the gradient of the line at the site where the development is proposed on the time taken to enter and leave the site.