County council wants to build 4,500 homes here
Resident and councillor hit out at plans for land next to M69
A VILLAGER has spoken of her frustration with the county council’s ‘obsession’ with developing swathes of countryside near her home.
Sharon Scott, who lives in Sapcote, hit out at Leicestershire County Council’s ambitions to develop 1,000 acres of farmland near Junction 2 of the M69.
Planners want to build 4,500 homes and 2.8 million square feet of office, commercial and industrial premises.
Officials had hoped to secure £19 million from the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund for the scheme, but this was refused.
Ms Scott said: “The council seems obsessed with making capital out of two county council farms to the point of completely ruining inhabitants of
Stoney Stanton.
“Their actions to date have shown a total disregard for the farmers’ livelihoods - frankly it’s on a par with the Irish clearances of the 19th century.
“They also exhibit a total disregard for the existing residents, many of whom chose to live in the villages because they appreciate living in the countryside.
“LCC have also demonstrated a complete ineptness at planning since the map they submitted with the Housing Infrastructure Bid missed off the new Jelson estate in Sapcote.
“It is very difficult to see how even LCC could slam a bypass between the Jelson estate and Stanton playing field.”
The council’s Strategic Growth Plan for the next 30 life for Sapcote the and years includes building an expressway from the A46 near Syston, looping east around Leicester and the south of the county around to the M69.
A spokesperson for the council said: “All landowners in the district, including the county council, were asked to consider what land they have that might help Blaby District Council meet its future housing need.
“Our tenants whose farmland may be affected by any future proposals were all informed before the land was put forward and we’re committed to ensure that they, local residents and councils are kept up to date with proposals.
“Residents will be given the opportunity to put forward their thoughts on any housing or employment proposals in the area through Blaby District Council’s Local Plan consultation process and as part of any individual planning applications that subsequently come forward.”
Hinckley county councillor David Bill has similar concerns about protecting the countryside.
He said: “Although the Government has not supported the county council in its bid for transport infrastructure, it is still intent on buying up additional land in the area.
“I am sorry to have to fall out with county colleagues but I rather like the countryside as it is which stretches between Hinckley, Burbage, Sapcote and Stoney Stanton and I would like it to stay that way.
“I do not think you could find anyone who would welcome HGVs ploughing through Hinckley and Burbage which would be the inevitable result if all this development goes ahead.”
Ms Scott is also worried about the proposed Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange (HNRFI), a 440-acre industrial hub that would be built between the M69 and the Leicester to Birmingham railway line.
She said: “The proposals for HNRFI may contravene the Paris Climate Accord to which the UK is a signatory and which stopped the extra runway at Heathrow.
“The climate considerations also throw LCC’s much vaunted strategic plan into doubt.
“Why would you base your plan for the future on a massive new bypass when we are trying to cut down road travel?”
The rail hub would be accessed via a new sliproad at Junction 2 of the M69.
A second round of informal consultations on the scheme was held in summer 2019, where options were presented for mitigating the traffic impact of the project.
A link road was proposed from Junction 2 through the site and over the railway line up to Leicester Road, which it would join near the sports clubs outside Hinckley.
An Eastern Villages Link was also set out, which would either go between Stoney Stanton and Sapcote, from Stanton Lane to Broughton Road, or south of Sapcote from Hinckley Road to Sharnford Road.
All three of the roads would be 3.7m-wide single carriageway routes.
Ms Scott also said that as the Covid-19 lockdown has shown how many people can work from home, planners should prioritise broadband provision rather than industrial developments.