BE2 2e.

The A5 can hardly cope with the existing traffic. If there is an issue on the M1 or M6 it comes to a standstill and all the local roads and villages suffer as a result.
More traffic is already desinted for the A5 as a result of the Dirft develpment and the new "village" being created outside of Rugby on the old BT site.
It will be intollerable to the local residents - many of whom have already muted moving away if Magna Park gets any bigger.

I have lived in the Lutterworth area since 1969. In particular Ullesthorpe, Bitteswell, Lutterworth (Saxon Fields) and Cotesbach. During this time Magna Park has been built on the present site. Clearly during a period of 48 years it would be expected to see an increase of normal car traffic. However the lorry traffic both day and night is now at an alarmingly high level. From my house looking onto the A426 Lutterworth to Rugby road there are at least 2 days each week when the road is blocked. This means having to delay or cancel often vital local appointments for myself and my wife as pensioners.

Severe contestation currently occurs on the M6 Junction 1,, Gibbet Island (A5) and the A426 Whittle Island.

Already 75% of the Magna Park workforce comes from outside the district. There is insufficient unmet employment need to reduce this figure, thus commuting will increase substantially. Magna Park Growth Sensitivity Survey concludes the allocation of 700 000m² of extra warehousing will generate 9689 extra jobs. Of these, the best case scenario sees 6488 commuting from outside Harborough District, whilst changing the assumptions used will see 7962 extra commuters from beyond district boundaries. Even if the workforce is hired in accordance with policy BE2.2.d, there will still be a substantial increase in commuting. We also question Harborough Council's ability to ensure compliance with this policy or to take action if it is breached. Does the Council have the powers to influence employment decisions?

Along with allocations of housing land in policy L1, employment land in policy BE1.bii and intensification of use in policy BE4.1.f Misterton with Walcote Council is concerned that congestion is inevitable, particularly around junction 20 on the M1, contrary to policy BE2.2.e

I think the proposals will lead to increased traffic and congestion

there will be increased traffic and congestion, which will add to the increases caused by the development of Lutterworth East, this is too much development happening too quickly in one neighbourhood. and is such a large area needed for this development?

Already severe traffic congestion so how can this plan not lead to more traffic congestion and air pollution?

The objective here is unattainable in the foreseeable future. The A5 is already heavily congested. Although developer-funded dualling of a few hundred metres of the A5 and minor works at roundabouts are promised in connection with approval already given to 15/00919/FUL, Highways England have no plans to widen the A5 in the affected area during the lifetime of this Plan.

The A426 between Junction 1 of the M6 and the A5 at the Gibbet roundabout is also severely congested at peak times, with tailbacks often reaching close to the M6. There are no known plans to improve it, whether through public funds or developer funding.

This part of the plan is not sound. It is not effective in that required road improvements to the A5 are outside the council's (and even Leicestershire County Council's) remit and that essential improvement to the A426 between the M6 and A5 are another county's responsibility. There are no known plans to improve matters. There is therefore no guarantee that the objective can be delivered.

Given the full employment situation in the area it has to be recognised that these warehouses would be staffed by people who are having to commute into Magna Park putting even greater pressure on the road networks around Magna Park e.g. A5, which we note there are no plans to improve. We note that the recently approved development at Magna Park includes the provision for a few hundred yard of dual carriageway and a roundabout, unlikely to suffice for that development let alone something of the proposed scale of development to come.

As an example, the cross roads at High Cross is already a very busy junction and sadly we witness fatal accidents most years. One can only assume that increased levels of traffic will only exacerbate this problem particularly if we take into account the proposed warehouse near the Hinckley Island Hotel and the huge warehousing development near Crick, both of which will generate further traffic movements.

I cross the A5 every day and drive along it frequently. The junction at High Cross is dangerous and difficult to use safely at busy times. When there is heavy traffic using the A5 drivers trying to cross or join take risks which lead to accidents, with more lorries these situations will increase leading to more accidents.

Given the full employment situation in the area it has to be recognised that these warehouses would be staffed by people who are having to commute into Magna Park putting even greater pressure on the road networks around Magna Park e.g. A5, which we note there are no plans to improve. We note that the recently approved development at Magna Park includes the provision for a few hundred yard of dual carriageway and a roundabout, unlikely to suffice for that development let alone something of the proposed scale of development to come.

As an example, the cross roads at High Cross is already a very busy junction and sadly we witness fatal accidents most years. One can only assume that increased levels of traffic will only exacerbate this problem particularly if we take into account the proposed warehouse near the Hinckley Island Hotel and the huge warehousing development near Crick, both of which will generate further traffic movements.

Traffic levels in and around the A5/Magna Park area will be badly affected by the resulting increase in the number of commuting workers coming from outside the district.

This area is currently congested during peak hours and the extra 10,000 workers will make this intolerable.

The adverse impact on pollution will be considerable

If it is going to happen, sort out the roads and stop nighttime activity and reduce pollution.

I don't know whether the plan is legally compliant as I am not a lawyer but I can only submit if I say it is so I have ticked yes.

The A5 is already congested and has been recognised as such. Adding more HGVs and commuters to already congested roads will inhibit the existing residents and commercial premises and make the site a local bottleneck and discourage the takeup of proposed warehousing

Substantial additional traffic congestion will result. There are no Highways England plans or funding to improve the poor road condition and safety of the A5 between A 426 junction and M69 roundabout until after 2030, Although Magna Park continues to be the main generator of both commercial and commuter traffic, only minor developer contributions have been sought, A426 is traffic-jammed at most times of day, to detriment of local residents accessing local facilities for work, education, health and domestic requirements. Several key roundabouts are at or over planned capacity. Several rural villages suffer from overload of commuter traffic.

the A5 is already a very busy road at times of shift change and times that lorries are leaving and entering the logistics park here. No thought has been considered as to the traffic issues further towards the M69 where there are already areas prone to accidents

Not justified or effective - what is the definition of "severe" as traffic assessments of the proposed Magna Par applications use different definitions of severe (Guidelines for the Environmental Assessment of Road Traffic by the Institute of Environmental Assessment or the Department for Transport, DBSymmetry LLITM 15/00865/OUT-ADDITIONAL INFORMATION-APPENDIX 4-ADDENDUM NOTE 590751, February 2016)

Fundamental infrastructure problems along the A5, A426, Gibbets Roundabout, Whittle Roundabout and other junctions exist. The current applications that Policy BE2 is clearly based upon do not properly address this policy BE2 (1)e.

Traffic congestion in Lutterworth is already at an unacceptable level, with the resultant poor air quality issues.

Considering the low unemployment in the area, most of the proposed new employment opportunities will need to come for outside the area. Coupled with anticipated doubling of lorry traffic, the A5 will become a car park and alternative routes through the villages will be the inevitable result. So everyone gets affected

Parts of the A5 are already congested and there have been several accidents around Smockington Hollow expansion to Magna Park will only add to the problem.

This proposed extension to Magna park will lead to severe traffic congestion in the surrounding area, particularly on the A5. Any proposed upgrade of the A5 will have a temporary effect - and in any case is not due to be completed until 2030. Local amenities such as the bridle path between Willey and Ullesthorpe will be impossible to access.

Walcote Parish Council wishes to make the following representations concerning the Harborough Local Plan.
Misterton with Walcote Parish Council is concerned that the consultation process has not been used to inform a number of policies proposed in the Harborough Local plan. This does not encourage participation, as the public has had no opportunity to express its views concerning these policies and indeed it seems that some new policies are entirely at odds with the opinions expressed in the earlier consultation.

The local roads around Magna Park do not presently cope with the very heavy traffic volumes.

Plans to substantially increase the size of Magna Park, which is already Europe's largest distribution centre, will inevitably produce far more severe traffic congestion.

The A5 and A426 are already extremely busy leading to long traffic queues, gridlock and the inability to makes journeys in a timely fashion.

Leicestershire already has one of the highest rates of road fatalities in the country.

The present site generates thousands of lorry journeys as well as thousands of commuter cars going to and from Magna Park.

M1 in Leicestershire and Northants is over populated currently and has accidents every/ most days blocking trade and travel in the local area. Any expansion will increase road congestion travelling north and south
The road between Rugby and the Gibbett island is busy to the extent of exhaustion this will eventually start to block M6 and M1 access from the motorway

To double the size of magna park will lead to more road problems on the A5 which is not fit for purpose on certain sections within the locality from 5800 to 10000 extra employees and staff projected by idi Gazley also doubling HGV movements and ware houses with large scale LGV movements LGV movements seem to be overlooked on transport surveys.

The Midlands Connect Strategy 2017 - 2030 highlights the inadequacy of the A5, this strategy does not envisage any major upgrading of the A5 in the Magna Park area prior to the end date of the strategy in 2030, one year before the end date of the proposed submission version of the HDC Local Plan. When the additional HGV volume and commuter traffic from the proposed policy are factored in, the current A5 layout become inoperable. Surrounding villages are already suffering from increased traffic volume when being used as a 'rat-run' to avoid A5 congestion and HGVs using 'short-cuts'. In addition to the increased traffic flow through surrounding villages the inadequacy of the A5 will also impact on business efficiency and the ability of the workforce to commute effectively at the current and proposed expansion Magna Park sites. UPC also contests that the definition of 'severe' is subjective, the various traffic assessments commissioned use different definitions of severe. It should be noted that public transport options in the immediate vicinity of Magna Park are limited and private car is the most convenient way for employees to travel to work.

The Midlands Connect Strategy 2017 - 2030 highlights the inadequacy of the A5, this strategy does not envisage any major upgrading of the A5 in the Magna Park area prior to the end date of the strategy in 2030, one year before the end date of the proposed submission version of the HDC Local Plan. When the additional HGV volume and commuter traffic from the proposed policy are factored in, the current A5 layout become inoperable. Surrounding villages are already suffering from increased traffic volume when being used as a 'rat-run' to avoid A5 congestion and HGVs using 'short-cuts'. In addition to the increased traffic flow through surrounding villages the inadequacy of the A5 will also impact on business efficiency and the ability of the workforce to commute effectively at the current and proposed expansion Magna Park sites. UPC also contests that the definition of 'severe' is subjective, the various traffic assessments commissioned use different definitions of severe. It should be noted that public transport options in the immediate vicinity of Magna Park are limited and private car is the most convenient way for employees to travel to work.

The Midlands Connect Strategy 2017 - 2030 highlights the inadequacy of the A5, this strategy does not envisage any major upgrading of the A5 in the Magna Park area prior to the end date of the strategy in 2030, one year before the end date of the proposed submission version of the HDC Local Plan. When the additional HGV volume and commuter traffic from the proposed policy are factored in, the current A5 layout become inoperable. Surrounding villages are already suffering from increased traffic volume when being used as a 'rat-run' to avoid A5 congestion and HGVs using 'short-cuts'. In addition to the increased traffic flow through surrounding villages the inadequacy of the A5 will also impact on business efficiency and the ability of the workforce to commute effectively at the current and proposed expansion Magna Park sites. UPC also contests that the definition of 'severe' is subjective, the various traffic assessments commissioned use different definitions of severe. It should be noted that public transport options in the immediate vicinity of Magna Park are limited and private car is the most convenient way for employees to
travel to work.

Harborough District Council: Harborough Local Plan Proposed submission
Lutterworth, db symmetry

Introduction

1 These representations accept the soundness of the Local Plan in the context of Policy BE2 Strategic Distribution.

2 It is however considered that the development management process would be assisted by some clarification to the wording of the following criteria. Such amendments do not alter the underlying purpose of the Criterion, but are considered to assist developers and the public in the operation of the policy when relevant planning applications are submitted for determination.

Criterion 1 a:

3 The allocation is to make provision for strategic scale storage and distribution uses. Criterion 1a) ensures that unit sizes are not less than 9,000 m2. On this basis it seems to me that Criterion c) could be simplified to state:

'The primary use of the premises will be within Class B8. Other uses should be ancillary in function or be relevant associated uses, for example a lorry park driver facilities.'

Criterion 2 b:

4 While the underlying objective of this Criterion maybe understood it may be difficult for a developer to demonstrate 'no adverse impact on the viability and deliverability of existing or further SRFIs.' My comments are as follows. Firstly the planning system does not exist to prevent competition. A developer would be faced in having to prove a negative, which would be an onerous task especially if a competing developer claimed that consent would impact upon ability and deliverability of another site. Secondly the Criterion as presently worded appears to suggest that a developer has to address other potential SRFIs which may be at various stages in the planning process and may indeed not secure a grant of planning permission. The reference to SRFIs 'serving' other neighbouring authorities and Leicestershire could result in an underlying extensive analysis of potential impact.

5 It is submitted that the purpose of this Criterion would be clarified on the basis of it is worded as follows:

'Support or at least no substantial impact upon the delivery of committed SRFIs located within Leicestershire and the neighbouring authorities.'

Criterion 2 d:

6 I believe some wording has been omitted from this Criterion to give effective meaning.

7 I suggest adding the words 'to travel other than by private car' after 'Harborough District'.

'include measures to enable an increase in the proportion of the workforce commuting from locations within Harborough District to travel other than by private car'

Criterion 2 e:

8 'Congestion' is not a term that is defined. It seems that the criterion would be more effective with the use of the word 'conditions'.

'not lead to severe traffic conditions anywhere on the nearby strategic and local road network, particularly the A5, whether within Harborough District or outside'

Criterion 2 f:

9 A landscape impact is an environmental impact. As such the criterion could be simplified to read.

'Ensure that 24 hour operations do not have an unacceptable impact upon the environment, and the amenity of local communities.'

10 I trust that these comments are considered helpful.