Countryside ‘could be lost under warehouses’
COUNCILLORS WORRIED ABOUT DEVELOPMENT IN ‘GOLDEN TRIANGLE’
OVERDEVELOPMENT of the south west of Leicestershire could ruin swathes of countryside and lead to a “tsunami of polution”, councillors fear.
A “golden triangle” between the M69, the M1 and the A5 has been identified as a key area for future industrial development.
Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council resolved to ensure future Leicester and Leicestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) plans recognise the importance of green space and that the interests of residents are given as much weight as the ambitions of “the ever-increasing logistics industry”.
Councillor Barry Walker said at a full council meeting: “I have lived in Burbage with my wife Dawn for 32 years and in that time we have both witnessed the rapid development of giant distribution hubs along the A5 and the increase in heavy goods vehicles clogging up our roads.
“We are now faced with the new threat of both commercial hubs and a rail hub directly adjacent to Burbage Common.
“This area of peaceful countryside and green space is vital for the residents of Burbage to enjoy with their families, as well as supporting the biodiversity which is both important and desirable.
“And yet the county council is still attempting to develop all the land between Burbage, Aston Flamville, Stoney Stanton and Sapcote.”
Plans are being brought forward for a Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange, a 440-acre site between the M69 and the Leicester to Birmingham railway line, which would be served by a new sliproad at Junction 2 of the M69.
Developers have said the hub would create 8,400 jobs, but the scheme has been opposed by district and parish councils and residents, raising concerns about traffic and the environmental impact.
Coun Walker said: “The promoters actually describe this growth area as a golden triangle without providing a carbon reduction plan and how they would provide a net gain for biodiversity and access to nature.
“I would describe it as an area that could cause a tsunami of pollution, where all of us, including our children, would be subjected to everincreasing levels of dangerous carbon monoxide, which we know to be detrimental to our health and wellbeing.
“I find the proposed golden triangle totally unacceptable, as it does not conform to current thinking on conservation and climate change.” Councillor David Bill, executive member for planning, said: “I am in favour of everyone having access to work and it was work in Coventry which brought me to the Midlands 50 years ago. “This was a time of full employment and I have never understood why so many factories were allowed to close.
“I am opposed to the golden triangle as it threatens so much of the south of the county with industrial development which invariably turns out be large sheds.
“It stretches deep into Hinckley and Bosworth, as far as Higham, Stoke Golding and Stapleton.” Councillor Matthew Lay, who represents Markfield, Stanton and Field Head, spoke about how his area is a target for development as it forms part of the A5 growth corridor.
Leicestershire County Council revealed last year that £160 million was to be spent on developing the A511/A50 growth corridor and Junction 20A of the M1.
Coun Lay said: “The development that is talked about is all warehousing, and it’s this continuation of building these giant warehouses that employ very few people on decent terms or conditions, with huge reliance on agency work, which is by its very nature unsatisfactory for working people.
“There is very little focus on skills or training or development. These warehouses occupy huge amounts of open countryside, increase the levels of HGV traffic. It’s nonsensical.”
Should we protect the green spaces – or do we need the jobs?
I would describe it as an area that could cause a tsunami of pollution
Coun Barry Walker