South Leicestershire MP Alberto Costa has issued a new survey and Parliamentary Petition to almost 6,000 households across ten villages asking residents for their views on the plans for the Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange (HNRFI).
The planning application for the 440-acre site, proposed for construction near to the village of Elmesthorpe, was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate by developers Tritax Symmetry on Monday 6th March – the plans include 850,000 sq.m of warehouse space with the rail interchange able to accommodate up to 16 trains per day.
The survey will be sent to all households on the electoral roll in the following villages - Elmesthorpe, Stoney Stanton, Sapcote, Sharnford, Huncote, Croft, Aston Flamville, Potters Marston, Wigston Parva and Thurlaston. Recipients will have until Monday 20th March to complete their survey and return it via the Freepost service.
Alberto has long opposed the plans for the HNRFI mentioning the site’s potential to overburden local infrastructure, the environmental impact on nearby Burbage Common and the effect it will have on the level crossing at Narborough Train Station.
The MP has previously led debates in the House of Commons on the plans for the Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange (HNRFI) and has joined with Dr Luke Evans, MP for Bosworth, in recently meeting with the Rail Minister to discuss the Government policy about the placement of new Rail Freight Interchanges.
Alberto said, “I am pleased to be launching a new survey and Parliamentary Petition to thousands of my constituents who are deeply concerned about the proposals for the Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange. These plans, if approved, would have a huge impact on the lives of many people living in this part of South Leicestershire, and now that the pre-consultation period is over for the HNRFI, I felt it necessary for my constituents to again have their say on this important planning application”.
Alberto added, “My new survey will begin landing on doorsteps in the ten villages early next week, and constituents will then have until Monday 20th March to complete and return my survey which can simply be sealed and posted back to me for free. The survey includes a question asking constituents if they wish to support my Parliamentary Petition; if this does indeed receive support then I will formally present this in the House of Commons to demonstrate the strength of feeling my constituents have in opposing the HNRFI plans. I do very much hope that constituents will take a few moments to complete and return my survey so that we can help shape the future of South Leicestershire.”
