More than 1,400 people have had their say on plans for the ‘New Lubbesthorpe’ – with the vast majority being objections.
The Leicester Mercury (Tuesday June 7th) reports that E-mails, letters and online comments have been sent to Blaby District Council about plans for 4,250 houses on countryside at Lubbesthorpe, between Leicester Forest East and Enderby.
The first phase of the public consultation on the plans ended on Friday and a decision on the planning application is expected by the end of the year.
Leicester Forest East Residents’ Action Group is among those objecting to the proposals.
Chairman of the Leicester Forest East Residents’ Action Group, David Hughes, told the paper:
“I’m delighted with the numbers of people objecting.
“Often people are reticent to put pen to paper on these issues, so this shows people are very concerned about the increase in traffic and pollution and the loss of farmland this would mean.
“It demonstrates the concerns of people in Leicester Forest East, Kirby Muxloe, Enderby and Thorpe Astley.”
He further commented that the objectors were prepared to fight all the way, even if the proposals went to a planning inspector on appeal.
Proposals for the homes, schools, two motorway bridges and 21 hectares of employment land at Lubbesthorpe were submitted to the council in February.
Representations have been made by a wide cross-section of the community, including councillors, businesses, residents and the local parish councils.
Tony Dolby, a Conservative district councillor for the area is reported as saying:
“There’s been a lot of resistance and it appears to me that it’s growing every day and hopefully we might stand a chance.
“There have been exhibitions and meetings and leaflets sent out encouraging people to get involved.
“People are objecting because it’s just too many houses and there would be at least 4,000 extra cars on the road with 4,250 homes.
“We’ve already got choc-a-bloc roads around here an the A47 and Thorpe Astley have air pollution problems. What they’re planning is just not on.”
A spokesperson for the consortium behind the development told the Mercury:
New development and change inevitably brings objections and when the consultation period ends we will work with the authorities to review the comments and reassess elements of the application where required.
Leicester Mercury | LFE RAG website with maps | Blaby District Council