Protesters stand by king’s side in Bosworth battle
CONTROVERSIAL plans for a driverless vehicle track on the historic battlefield where Richard III was killed have been put on hold.
Council planning chiefs deferred a decision on the proposal for further discussions to take place with Horiba Mira, the company behind the £26 million scheme.
Many members of the public only became aware a few days before a planning meeting that the expansion of a neighbouring technology park would eat into part of Bosworth Field.
It was at the site, south of Market Bosworth, Leicestershire, where the armies of Yorkist king Richard III were defeated by Henry Tudor, later Henry VII.
On August 22, 1485, Richard’s 15,000 strong army was cut down by a force of just 5,000. After being killed, Richard was stripped, tied to a horse and the body paraded in Leicester.
At a Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council meeting, members were asked to weigh up whether allowing the government-backed project to proceed would bring enough public benefits to outweigh the loss of a small portion of the battlefield.
They voted to defer the matter to a meeting later this month in the hope that Horiba Mira can revise its scheme in a way that preserves the battlefield in its entirety.
A petition opposing the plans has so far attracted 12,000 signatures.
One of the main bones of contention among objectors was the fact that the plan had slipped under the radar during a public consultation period. Although the proposals to expand the technology park have been widely publicised for some time, many people only became aware that the project would intrude on to the registered battlefield a week before the planning meeting.
The council had already sought the views of all statutory consultees. These include Highways England, National Grid and the flood authorities. Heritage watchdog Historic England was also consulted.
It did not object but warned that some harm would be caused to the battlefield, adding that the council would have to justify the public benefits of the scheme before granting permission.
Planning consultant Graham Warrener, who represented Horiba Mira at the meeting, told councillors that the aim was to create a world-leading facility to further driverless car technology.
The scheme would create 2,000 direct and indirect jobs, and would be a significant wealth creator for the area.
Mr Warrener said the project had already improved the understanding of the battlefield, as University of Leicester archaeologists had carried out ten studies of part of the plan’s preparation.
But Councillor Chris called for the plans to be out.
“It has been there for 535 years and a few days,” he said.
“It is not beyond the wit of Horiba and all their Japanese technology to sort this out. If deferring this will do no good, we should turn it down completely.” Ladkin kicked