Villagers voice traffic fears
More than 2,000 people have had their say on a plans to build 4,250 homes.
A consortium of builders – Barratt Homes, David Wilson Homes, Davidsons Developments and Hallam Land Management – wants to develop the site at Lubbesthorpe, near Leicester Forest East.
The planning application, submitted to Blaby District Council last year, was revised after residents raised concerns about traffic congestion, air quality and loss of countryside.
Since then, 2,029 people have shared their views on the Blaby District Council website as part of the consultation, which finished on Friday.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
However, the authority has extended the time given to other district councils to have their say to September 17.
Peter Wilson, who lives in Leicester Forest East, said: "In fairness, the consultation period should be extended for everyone.
"The traffic flow information has only just become available.
"Everyone should be able to study that information and send their responses to Blaby council."
Opposition to the developement has been spearheaded by Leicester Forest East Residents' Action Group.
It said one of its main concerns about the scheme was traffic congestion.
The group said Blaby Road, Forest Road and Leicester Lane in the village were already busy at rush hour and it was worried about how the routes would cope with the extra traffic, despite new roads being built as part of the development.
However, developers have assured residents that traffic would not be an issue.
Paul Burton, from the New Lubbesthorpe development consortium, said: "We appreciate that change always causes concerns, particularly in terms of transport.
"We are working very closely with the highways authorities to ensure that mitigation measures are provided, including a multi-million-pound package of improvements incorporating new bridges over the motorways, junction improvements, traffic-calming measures and new bus services."
The 400-acre site would include three schools, a healthcare centre, shops, parks, play areas and an employment park.
Mr Burton said: "The inclusion of a full range of services will also help reduce the need to travel.
"This is a very high quality development. Almost half of the land will be green space, woodland and hedgerows, creating an attractive setting and helping to maintain the identities of existing communities, while also providing facilities and improved access to open spaces."
Blaby District Council has previously sent letters to 8,000 households in the area.
It has held regular briefings with parish councils and residents' groups as part of the consultation process.
However, it said it would not comment on the results of the consultation until all the information had been collected.
Comments
by Peter20101
Monday, September 17 2012, 10:02PM
“Leicester Forest East Parish Council has placed its objection to the Lubbesthorpe application online, it is worth a read !
http://tinyurl.com/97ljvwe”
by karinfall1955
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 7:35PM
“These developers are not interested in renovating existing buildings or building on brown field sites. They want the easier option of 'virgin' green field sites to build on, no messing. It is a disgrace, I for one will be joining the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) as they seem to stand up to the government on these issues.”
by Peter20101
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 4:12PM
“On Radio Leicester this morning a Blaby District Councillor said that this application would be "rubber stamped" soon!
Radio Leicester is now reporting this as a "done deal"
How can he say this, as the Council is suppossed to be independant whilst making a decision and it hasnt even been tabled yet, and consultation to Parish Councils is still ongoing
Or does the Council not consider this appropriate
The Leader of the Council, Cllr. White, has said
"I completely and utterly refute the assertion that the decision has already been made. The public consultation period has just ended and officers will be preparing the report for consideration by members."
Something is not right here, as it appears that there is pressure inside the Council to approve this - this is called makeing a presumptive decision and I beleive is not allowed under planning law
Lets hope Cllr. White and others listens to local concerns from the (close on) 3,000 representations made.”
by graydjames
Monday, September 03 2012, 10:05PM
“I agree totally with the principle that colarrey sets out.
I am not sure about his reference to the planning application for Thorpe Astley in 2004 because the overwhelming majority of Thorpe Astley was bulit by 2004. Perhaps he means 1994.
But nonetheless, the principle is relevant. I have no doubt that all these things would hae been promised for Thorpe Astley but all there is one shop, hopelessly ill positioned and predominatly given over to its pharmacy role. There is a comunity centre too but it took about 16 years to get that from the first house being built.
Councils always fail hopelessly to insist on these essentials. It's a disgrace. They always give in to the building companies whose only interest is profit.”
by colarrey
Monday, September 03 2012, 5:41PM
“What planet is Paul Burton on when he says "The inclusion of a full range of services will also help reduce the need to travel."
How on earth are they going to do this? With, as he says "a full range of services".
A quote from the planning application for Thorpe Astley back in 2004
"The 400-acre site would include three schools, a healthcare centre, shops, parks, play areas and an employment park."
Question.
Where are the schools, where is the healthcare centre, and where are the shops?
It's all well and good the developers clicking the right buttons by quoting these things the Council want to hear when they want planning permission but why don't they do it.
And, more importantly, WHY DOESN'T THE COUNCIL CHASE THEM OVER THESE ISSUES.
Granted, the space for schools, shops and healthcare takes up space they could use for houses and we all know there is money to be made there!
But THEN that wouldn't be the reason, would it???”
by prog_rock_fan
Monday, September 03 2012, 5:32PM
“Just say NO to this permanent loss of irreplaceable green space!”
by prog_rock_fan
Monday, September 03 2012, 5:32PM
“Just say NO to this permanent loss of irreplaceable green space!”
by Peter20101
Monday, September 03 2012, 4:52PM
“Here is an update on the representations made to Blaby District Council for the planning application & a new town development:
0.05% (14) Supportive representations
6.25% (182) Neutral representations
92.8% (2699) Objecting representations
2908 Total representations
figures supplied by Blaby District Council, but i beleive this exclude some consultees who were given an extension to review the traffic reports - when the public were not offered this courtesey.”
by Graham_LE8
Monday, September 03 2012, 4:32PM
“If, as recent information suggests, there's a total of over 9000 properties vacant in Leicestershire, if we could get just half of them reoccupied this development would be totally unneccessary; makes you think, doesn't it...”
by musical_becki
Monday, September 03 2012, 11:27AM
“The thing is, this ignores the fact that there is also a consultation surrounding the fields opposite Beggars Lane where they want to build another 140 roads. If, for example, all of these have 2 cars, that's 280 cars, plus the 3000 cars from the New Lubbesthorpe area coming down Beggars Lane (as they have refused to build a new entrance onto the A47 to ease congestion...) Not to mention all of the works lorries and vans which will be going up and down these roads for 5 years. We went through this once when David Wilson finished the back of the LFE estate, don't put us through it again!!”