Urgent review needed on planning policies

THE article “Countryside could be lost under warehouses” (January 4) reports councillors’ concern at continuing proposals for the “golden triangle” of land bordered by the M1, M69 and A5 in Leicestershire, principally affecting Stoney Stanton, Sapcote, Burbage and Aston Flamville.

The councillors rightly raise the issues of pollution and traffic density as well as loss of countryside by the developments of massive warehouses.

It is said developers claim these developments will create 8,400 jobs. Where? How?

These warehouses are mainly mechanised and increasingly robotic.

Leicestershire County Council plans for development are highlighted.

Most importantly, no mention is made in all this about the loss of agricultural land by all this development.

Strategically for the UK, now Brexit has happened, we need to ensure food sustainability for the future, so there should be clear strategic planning to develop home produce.

Otherwise, as in the past, imported food prices will be impacted, possibly severely, by a fluctuating and weak pound.

The UK should be striving now to increase its agricultural and food production industry and, as with energy, reducing dependency on imported.

If we do not then, just like the utter unpreparedness of the UK in the face of the pandemic, we will be impacted by loss of that industry and increasingly reliant on abroad.

Energy and food will be power in the changing world.

There should be an urgent review of these development plans and especially the policy of selling off agricultural land by the county council called into question.

Indeed, the council should justify itself publicly, preferably in these pages.

Answers please, county councillors, MPs....

Eddie Bestwick, Stoney Stanton