Councillor urges Planning Inspector to stop plans to build 60 houses on Hinckley nature feature

A Hinckley County Councillor has urged a Planning Inspector to reject plans for 60 houses to be built on a Hinckley nature feature. A Planning Inspector is currently considering an appeal by Orbit Housing to build 60 houses on the Big Pit site, situated behind Ashby Road in Hinckley.

Liberal Democrat County Councillor for Hinckley De Montfort, Cllr Michael Mullaney has written an official submission to the Inspector urging him to turn down the proposals to build on the site.

Cllr Michael Mullaney said "I write to object to the proposal to build 60 dwellings on the Big Pit, land to the rear of 44-78 Ashby Road, Hinckley.

"As the local County Councillor for the area around the Big Pit I am aware of the huge level of public concern and opposition to any building on the site. Over many years there have been numerous proposals to build houses on the Big Pit site and these have been repeatedly turned down by the local Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council and Leicestershire County Council. There have been numerous public meetings over the years which have been well attended by residents objecting to the development and local campaigning groups such as the Big Pit Resistance Group have been formed to oppose the development. A petition opposing the development of the site gathered well over 1,000 signatures. There is clear and large opposition locally to any plans to build on this site.

"There continue to be concerns that the level of parking provided for the planned 60 properties would be inadequate. The proposals for parking contained in the application are flawed and the plans should be rejected because of this.

"Infrastructure is a real concern. There are no Section 106 monies coming with this application, this means that the local community will not get the infrastructure investment needed for local health services and other local services which will see increased demand if this development goes ahead.

"Drainage and fears of flooding continue to be a huge concern for local residents living in the area around the Big Pit site. There are natural springs in the area and the Big Pit has quickly filled up with water again when it has been drained in the past. To build on the Big Pit site carries the risk of making flooding in the area worse for people living in properties nearby.

"The development is also likely to put large numbers of lorry movements onto Ashby Road, in order to fill the Big Pit in. This road can already get congested during the day and this development will add to these problems.

"There is largescale opposition to development on the Big Pit, this opposition has been there for decades as previous applications to build on the site have been repeatedly turned down by the local council. There are already problems with flooding in the area which building on the Big Pit will make worse, the proposals do not provide adequate parking spaces for the number of cars likely to be owned by the people living in the 60 properties.

"The plans to build on the Big Pit are flawed and I would ask the Planning Inspector to turn down the latest plans to build on the Big Pit."