Representation by Jennifer M Fry
- Date submitted
- 22 June 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
The siting of the proposed HNRFI seems to be ill-considered in respect to the suitability of the road network through the Fosse villages and the effect it will have on their identities. The roads through Stoney Stanton (which would inevitably see an increase in traffic) were not designed to accommodate large HGV's. The tankers and other HGVs to and from the Calor Gas depot at the Huncote Road end of the village already struggle to get through without mounting the pavement, if they happen to meet tractors with large trailers and/or farm machinery coming the opposite way. There are bends on Long Street and Broughton Road where traffic has to give way to enable large or long vehicles to pass on opposite sides of the road. There is a mini roundabout by the Co-operative Store in the centre of the village which is already beyond capacity. At morning and evening rush hour, there are often vehicles at each of the four entries to the roundabout and it does not function safely or effectively. The junction has poor visibility if approaching up the hill on Broughton Road and there are often near misses and bad tempered drivers. Pedestrians have a difficult and dangerous job crossing the road at these times. The zebra crossing is often either ignored or just not noticed by drivers as they are quick to take their opportunities to cross the roundabout. There is no space to improve this junction. The stretch of Hinckley Road from The Old School Surgery to Farndon Drive is another dangerous area. Most of the houses along this part of the road do not have driveways, so there is lots of on-street parking. This means the traffic has to flow in an alternating one-way direction. This leads to delays and frustrated drivers - a situation that will be further exacerbated by an increase in traffic. The top pedestrian entrance/exit to and from Manorfield Primary School joins Hinckley Road next to the Doctors' surgery. Crossing Hinckley Road to get to Carey Hill Road (where many parents park their cars at Stoney Stanton War Memorial Playing Fields Car Park) is again difficult and dangerous for pedestrians. There is no pedestrian crossing on this road. These problems in Stoney Stanton are replicated in many other of the Fosse villages. If Junction 2 of the M69 is opened up to Southbound traffic, there will be a massive increase in vehicles cutting through Stoney Stanton, Sapcote, Sharnford, Broughton Astley and Burbage - and that is in addition to those belonging to employees and delivery vehicles of the HNRFI. The freedom of village residents, including children, to enjoy walking, running, cycling and horse-riding safely along our rural roads will be further threatened by this proposed development.