‘Suffocated’ villagers call for rethink on huge East Midlands Freeport location

Villagers who fear being “suffocated” by the major East Midlands Freeport plan[1] have called on bosses to “do the right thing” and pick a new location. Developers insist the scheme will benefit the area and bring in thousands of jobs despite the concerns. Manchester Airports Group (MAG), the bosses of East Midlands Airport[2], submitted their outline plans earlier this month to transform 102 acres of green space south of the airport in Castle Donington[3] into a major logistics hub.

Ownership of the land is up in the air though, with SEGRO, who head up the nearby East Midlands Gateway, believing they can make ground on the Freeport scheme[4] despite MAG owning the majority of the site. Discussions into resolving the ownership issues are ongoing, but worry persists in Diseworth[5], with the warehouses set to stretch as far as the village’s Hyam’s Lane. Action group Protect Diseworth is urging bosses from the firms to rethink their plans.

Spokesman Richard Brackenbury said: “While these big businesses are battling over their respective Freeport land grabs, we are caught in the crossfire. But the sad fact is that, whichever firm wins, we lose.” If approved by North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC)[7], the Castle Donington land would be transformed into eight warehouses for future logistics purposes.

The site would take two years to complete, with MAG claiming it would create more than 2,000 jobs for the area – that’s in addition to the 174 created to erect the warehouses in the first place. The plan is one third of the wider East Midlands Freeport scheme, with two other sites set to be built at the East Midlands Intermodal Park (EMIP) in South Derbyshire and the Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station redevelopment site in Nottingham. Combined, the three would help create 28,000 new jobs for the region[8] according to the airport group.

Yet fears from Diseworth residents remain strong despite the supposed economic benefits[9]. While access to the site would be off the A453 south of the airport, they claim the project will severely harm the village and their lives. It’s why they’ve called on MAG and the Freeport team to pick a new location.

Mr Brackenbury said: “Our village and the agricultural land around it will be suffocated to make way for yet more giant logistics warehouses. This devastation is being wreaked on the vague promise of ‘promoting regeneration, creating jobs and generating hotbeds of innovation for the East Midlands’. However, building yet another logistics park is highly unlikely to deliver any of those outcomes.

“We’re calling on MAG, East Midlands Airport, SEGRO and the Freeport Board to seek alternative brownfield locations for their developments. We want them to do the right thing to save our village from this unnecessary assault.” East Midlands Freeport bosses believe the project will act as a “catalyst” for economic growth in the region though.

MAG also strongly backs the initiative and previously said Diseworth residents will be kept informed throughout the planning process[10] ahead of finalised proposals being submitted. EMA’s managing director Steve Griffiths even said the outline project had “carefully considered”[11] Diseworth and any impacts on it. He said: “The proposals we have submitted to the council outline how we have carefully considered the opportunities and constraints of the site, seeking to strike the balance between the need for such a development against the potential impact on the environment and local residents.

We have met and will continue to meet members of Diseworth Parish Council and community groups and have aimed to address their concerns in our proposals.” Final designs on the warehouses will emerge at a later stage in the process. NWLDC will make a decision on the outline plans at a later date.

We are now bringing you the latest updates on WhatsApp first[12]

References

1. ^ major East Midlands Freeport plan (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
2. ^ East Midlands Airport (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
3. ^ Castle Donington (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
4. ^ can make ground on the Freeport scheme (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
5. ^ worry persists in Diseworth (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
6. ^ New Sainsbury’s store to open in Leicestershire (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
7. ^ North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
8. ^ create 28,000 new jobs for the region (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
9. ^ fears from Diseworth residents remain strong despite the supposed economic benefits (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
10. ^ will be kept informed throughout the planning process (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
11. ^ “carefully considered” (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
12. ^ We are now bringing you the latest updates on WhatsApp first (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)