Representation by Helen Coombs
- Date submitted
- 22 June 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Leicester and Leicestershire Strategic Growth Plan identifies, amongst other things “inadequate transport infrastructure, causing congestion; gaps in the road and rail network; pressures on existing communities from new development, lack of infrastructure and services” as some of the major risks to the Leicester and Leics economy.” The traffic into and out of HNRFI will amplify this several fold across the local area. We already have a huge amount of warehousing regionally. RFI's should be near the markets they serve,and the new NNNPS states that new developments should be “strategically located” in order to develop a cross country network. Local village infrastructure is unable to support this extra traffic, in particular Stoney Stanton and Sapcote, and surrounding roads/junctions. Increased air and noise pollution. Vibrations affecting housing near rail line in Elmesthorpe. Exit from site from link road to A47 along perimeter road should also be reconsidered, in terms of capacity. Also concerns about capacity of the A5, and the M69 junction at Fosse Park, both of which experience heavy congestion at peak times now. Concern that if the rail hub must be built, and if development goes ahead, we don't find ourselves in the position S. Northants found themselves in, where the rail hub was passed by PINS, but only warehousing built. Longer trains, and increased number of trains through Narborough - solution needed for barrier downtime, and its effect on paralysing Narborough for a significant part of each hour. Loss of significant amount of farmland at a time when food supply chains are insecure due to climate change, and political instability means we must have a coherent strategy for supplying our own food. HNRFI would be standing next to Burbage Common, a much loved place for recreation, and part of which is an SSI. There would be huge loss of irreplaceable wildlife and their habitats. HNFI will not add to the overall quality of life in the area. It will not respond to local character and history nor reflect the identity of the local surroundings. It would be a significant encroachment of built development into open countryside and rural villages.