HOW BRIDGE-FIX COULD PRODUCE A JOBS BONANZA
Major employer may relocate to proposed industrial hub
A LARGE employer based in Hinckley could be relocating to a proposed industrial hub outside the town, creating up to 800 new jobs.
Plans are being drawn up to develop 150 acres of land at Padge Hall Farm, with the business park to have an entrance on the A5 near the railway bridge.
Logistics developer Mountpark, the group bringing for
ward the plans, has revealed that an “important” employer in the town could be moving into the new development.
A spokesman said: “Our development proposals will include a new building for an important Hinckley-based employer who is keen to remain in the area, but unable to find a suitable site or premises.
“The relocation will safeguard jobs and create between 600 to 800 new roles.”
The Hinckley Times has asked Mountpark who the company is, but has yet to receive a response.
When plans for the business hub emerged in 2019, there were concerns from Hinckley councillors about how the site would affect plans to build a new road around the nearby low railway bridge over the A5.
The structure was last year declared the most-bashed bridge in Britain’ after it was hit by lorries on average once a fortnight.
To discuss these concerns, a meeting was held earlier this month between Mountpark, various councillors and Highways England.
Hinckley county and borough councillor David Bill, who attended, said: “It is very early days and the key decisions will be taken by Rugby Borough Council, Warwickshire County Council and Highways England but we established two key principles – the need to improve height capacity of the railway bridge and the need to reserve sufficient room for an alternative route for the A5.
“There is obviously the wider question over the balance to be struck between the provision of work to replace all the jobs now being lost and the need to protect farmland and the open countryside which is fast disappearing.
“As we keep pointing out, the drive on the part of the Government to encourage housing and industrial development comes with a cost.”
Mountpark previously said that its plans included lowering the carriageway along a 200-metre stretch of the A5, beneath the railway bridge, and to undertake works to address problems with flooding in the area.
The spokesman said: “Our discussions are ongoing but we understand the need to ensure any works or development now do not prejudice longer term ambitions for upgrading this section of the A5 close to Hinckley.
“Based on the information others have been able to share with us about a potential future widening scheme, we are confident we would not prejudice delivery of such an improvement, while also delivering significant earlier benefits by removing the problems caused by the bridge.”