‘Detrimental’ East Midlands Freeport plan would impact villagers, says MP

A huge county warehousing scheme would result in traffic, noise and flooding issues for local communities, the area's MP fears. Plans to build part of the East Midlands Freeport on 102 acres of fields near Castle Donington's East Midlands Airport have long been opposed by villagers.[1] Residents of Diseworth, who would be the hub's neighbours, have raised a number of concerns over the proposals, including fears their village will be "suffocated" and the project will result in the "wanton destruction" of the countryside.

They have formed the action group Protect Diseworth and called on the company behind the plan - Manchester Airports Group (MAG) - to pick another location[2]. However, MAG, which owns EMA, insists the scheme will bring thousands of jobs into the area and "act as a catalyst for economic regeneration" there. Now, new Labour MP for North West Leicestershire Amanda Hack has added her voice to those speaking out against the plan.

In a letter to North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC)[3], which will ultimately decide on the plan, she said it was "unclear why the site was selected" in the first place "due to its proximity to [the] small Leicestershire village" of Diseworth. She listed a number of impacts she fears the development would have on local communities if it were to proceed. Among them are concerns about increased traffic in the area which she said would be "detrimental" for the village and would increase noise and air pollution locally.

She said: "Diseworth already feels the impact of being next to an airport[5] and there is currently a land barrier between the two. The removal of this land barrier, to be replaced by the proposed development and associated traffic movements, would be detrimental." Ms Hack also believed the lack of public transport options meant most Freeport employees would have to travel by car[6].

She said: "There are already difficulties getting to this part of Leicestershire to work [...] The public transport options were cut back less than two years ago. There is a real lack of sustainable transport options to access this site." Long-standing flooding concerns cannot be ignored either according to Ms Hack.

She said: "Homes in the neighbouring villages of Diseworth and Long Whatton have a history of flooding. The mitigation of managing the flood risk have not been alleviated by the plans as presented." The new buildings would also prove overbearing for Diseworth, she feels, as the site is on higher ground.

Ms Hack accused developers of showing "little consideration for the preservation" of the village.

EMA's managing director Steve Griffiths previously said the outline project had "carefully considered"[7] 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.

If approved[8], the Freeport would be accessed off the A453 and become the first of three sites across the region to play a part in the wider East Midlands Freeport project. The other two would be sited at East Midlands Intermodal Park (EMIP) in South Derbyshire and the Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station redevelopment site in Nottingham. Overall, the Freeport aims to create 28,000 new jobs[9] across the three sites.

At Castle Donington[10], MAG says more than 2,000 would be created in Leicestershire - with 174 people employed over the two-year construction period. Outline plans were submitted to NWLDC in June[11]. This means the authority will consider the principle of the scheme, with the full details to be submitted at a later date.

No decision has yet been made on the outline proposals.

References

1. ^ have long been opposed by villagers. (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
2. ^ to pick another location (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
3. ^ North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
4. ^ Fresh bid to build flats on Leicester pub car park (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
5. ^ an airport (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
6. ^ car (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
7. ^ "carefully considered" (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
8. ^ approved (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
9. ^ new jobs (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
10. ^ Castle Donington (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
11. ^ Outline plans were submitted to NWLDC in June (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)