Hundreds sign petition to save Hinckley's"Big Pit"

Well over 250 residents living near the site of the "Big Pit" wildlife haven in Hinckley have signed a petition opposing plans to fill in the site.

The petition was organised by Hinckley Lib Dem County Councillor Michael Mullaney and local Lib Dem Borough Councillors Jeff Bannister, Lynda Hodgkins and Keith Nichols.

This Thursday the County Councils Planning Committee will be deciding on whether to allow a planning application for the Big Pit, a nature feature behind Asda, Hinckley to be filled in to allow houses to be built on it.

The petition opposing these plans highlights concerns that filling in the "Big Pit" could increase the risk of flooding to nearby properties, and that there could be fifty lorries a day taking materials onto the access route on Ashby Road, Hinckley.

Petition organiser Cllr Michael Mullaney (Lib Dem Hinckley) said "Clearly there is very strong opposition amongst the people living near the site of the Big Pit to these plans to fill it in. People are particularly concerned about the possible risk of flooding and the destruction of a wildlife haven in the town,

"I hope the County Council's Planning Control Committee members will listen to residents concerns, oppose the plans to fill in the Big Pit and save this important local nature feature."