THE LOCAL ARGUMENTS
Destruction of vital Greenfield land
Thousands of acres of important countryside would be lost forever. The proposed site and the surrounding area would no longer provide the space, recreation and enjoyment it does now.
It is not just the local rural communities that are threatened. Leicester’s south-eastern green wedge, a strategic feature defined in the Government’s own planning guidance, would be cancelled out due to the town’s close proximity. As a result, tens of thousands of people living in Oadby, Knighton Stoneygate and Evington would no longer have immediate access to unspoilt countryside and would have to travel long distances to enjoy similar green space.
Lack of suitable transport infrastructure
A huge increase in road traffic in the area is inevitable, with steep rises on the already congested A6 and A47 routes into Leicester, and dangerous levels of road use on minor roads such as the Gartree Road into Leicester. There are no nearby motorways. To provide the required new roads would be hugely costly and pointlessly destructive.
As it stands, Leicester already has a serious traffic problem. Our city has been shown by various Government studies to have the worst traffic speeds in the country (BBC report, Guardian report). Furthermore, Council employed researchers found that the A6 is the second worst road in Leicester (Leicester Mercury).
The only public transport facilities that are easy to develop are bus park and rides. A new railway station would again be very costly and difficult to implement and would only provide a small proportion of the required transport, especially as services continue to be driven down at smaller stations across the rail network.
There is no real prospect of affordable or convenient public transport at any time in the near future.
Flooding and pollution
Dr Graham Jones is Senior Research Associate of the University of Oxford Centre for the Environment and Heritage Warden for Great Glen. His article discusses pollution and flooding problems that would be created by the development. It also includes social impacts.
It is predicted that the eco-town would produce increased flood risk to 4 separate drainage networks, as shown on this 3D perspective and Landsat image, provided by the Department of Geology at the University of Leicester.
Negative impact on Leicester’s Regeneration
It is argued that a town this close to Leicester would severely impact the city’s regeneration by drawing away businesses and home buyers. In a housing strategy currently defined in the Draft Regional Plan, City and County planners are meeting Government previous requirements for 85,000 new homes in the county by 2026, whilst maintaining Leicester’s current growth. Report in the Leicester Mercury.
Nicholas Falk, founder director of not-for-profit urban regeneration consultancy Urbed, looks at the problems of bypassing the usual local planning process.
Destruction of Natural and Cultural heritage
The area contains much of historical importance. The Gartree Road forms a part of the old Roman road stretching from Leicester to Colchester. There have been numerous archaeological discoveries along this route, including a hoard of silver coins and a silver helmet in 2001. Three ancient monuments lie within the eco-town site and there are a number of other recorded archaeological sites in the vicinity.
The area is also important to wildlife, included species protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. There are 42 known badger sets on the estate, with great crested newts, various bats, sparrow hawks, sky larks, grey partridge, red kite and barn owls to name a few.
Leicester Airport - is it brownfield?
The Co-op argues that a large brownfield site is to be developed as part of their plans. However this satellite map shows that the Leicester Airport is mostly made up of arable (grass) land. The government’s reclassification of brownfield sites simply doesn’t hold water here.
In fact the airport is popular with Leicestershire residents and is known around the world. It forms a part of our region’s character and history, and has seen World War 2 service and numerous of air shows. Today the airport still provides much interest to our region, and would be missed by many.
The Co-op is ignoring local concerns
There is speculation that this is already a done deal. The Co-Operative Group has been in private talks, and details are being withheld from the public at least until the shortlist is announced.
A full public consultation has been promised by the Co-Op, however this will very likely be a PR exercise rather than an opportunity for local people and councils to influence the proposals.
Despite the angry reaction in recent months, and the overwhelming argument against the proposal, the Co-op is still keen to press ahead. Elsewhere, an eco town proposal has been pulled by Pochin’s PLC, due the strong opposition from residents.
Will the Co-op put profit before people? Or will they stand by the values set out in their own corporate message.
THE NATIONAL ARGUMENTS
Britain can’t feed itself
The UK now imports 40% of its food, a proportion which is growing. This in itself is not sustainable. Global warming and the rise of bio-fuel are reducing the amount of arable land available for feeding human populations, and rising stars China and India are rapidly increasing their demands on foreign food. This all means higher food prices for Britain, and of course this hits the poorest the hardest.
Importing food also increases our carbon footprint.
Farmland needs to be preserved as much as possible if Britain is to have a sustainable future.
Immigration - who are these houses for?
The Government has yet to control immigration. Bizarrely they have demonstrated very little concern. The UK is the only country in Europe to freely admit any number of people from the new EU member countries. No other country has taken this stance. Despite surprise and warnings from other European leaders our Government have pressed ahead with a disastrous policy, subjecting us to a level of immigration never seen before.
Why should we build ever more houses, and concrete over yet more of our diminishing countryside and farmland, when we have no sensible immigration controls in place?
The “Eco” Town competition is undemocratic
The Government has refused to disclose locations of the 58 or more proposed sites, claiming it is commercially sensitive information.
It has been easy for opponents to argue that the Government is delaying public disclosure to reduce the amount of organised opposition. The short list of 18 is likely to provide some real shocks around the country.
THE BRITISH PUBLIC SHOULD HAVE BEEN FULLY INFORMED FROM THE START. Instead it is likely that the Freedom of Information Act will have to be used to release crucial information into the public domain.
Courtesy of Rob Parker
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