South Leicestershire MP, Alberto Costa has raised serious concerns about the formal consultation undertaken by developers Tritax Symmetry for the Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange (HNRFI).
The MP has said that he has been contacted by a large number of constituents who have been alarmed by the lack of detail available at public exhibitions and the poor knowledge of Tritax employees who have apparently been unable to answer questions about the number of trains entering the site, the increase in HGVs and the impact on the level crossing at Narborough Train Station.
Alberto has also expressed concern about a number of residents in nearby Sapcote who have been contacted by the developer seeking to purchase their land, despite the application for the new rail freight interchange not being approved – he has now written to the developer, Tritax Symmetry, to ask for their comments and to ask that they restart their consultation with necessary improvements.
Alberto and Dr Luke Evans, MP for neighbouring Bosworth, also recently voiced their support for the comments made by Leicestershire County Council and Blaby District Council, both of whom had raised significant concerns about the extent of the consultation, the traffic modelling used for the plans and the lack of an appropriate bypass for nearby Stoney Stanton and Sapcote.
Alberto said, “Given the size, scale and level of disruption this development will bring to my constituents, it is quite clear that the consultation for the Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange has been nowhere near good enough. I have heard from a large number of my constituents who are deeply concerned about the lack of detail outlined in the consultation documents and the poor knowledge displayed by Tritax officials at public consultations and webinars who have apparently been unable to answer reasonable and fairly simple questions put forward by local residents”.
Alberto concluded, “I am most displeased too to hear that some of my constituents in Sapcote have received letters from Tritax about the proposed purchase of their land. This is an unacceptable approach being taken by the developer, especially as the application in question is not even close to being decided, let alone approved, and this is causing serious alarm for many residents.
These factors, in addition to the scant consideration given to the impact on Narborough Railway Station and the level crossing there, has led me to formally write to Tritax and ask that they restart their consultation with the necessary improvements needed. It is simply not acceptable for my constituents to not have all the information they require and for their questions to go unanswered and therefore we must see changes and improvements made, otherwise I will be forced to raise this matter with the Secretary of State for Transport in the House of Commons which will no doubt be a source of considerable embarrassment for Tritax Symmetry”.
