Agenda item

Report of the Director of Services

Presented by the Regeneration and Planning Portfolio Holder

Having declared a disclosable pecuniary interest, Councillor R Blunt left the Chair and the meeting, and the Deputy Chairman, Councillor A V Smith took the Chair.

The Regeneration and Planning Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

He reminded Members that at the meeting on the 26 February 2013 Council agreed the motion that North West Leicestershire District Council objects to the proposed HS2 route on the basis that there is no positive impact on the district, its residents and businesses and we urge the Secretary of State to reconsider the proposals and look again at following a route along the A38 to Derby, and that the Council’s overall position to the proposed route had not changed.

He informed Members that in responding to this formal consultation it was important that the Council raised specific concerns about the impact of the route and how the Council would expect HS2 and the Government to mitigate against the impacts if the line was to be constructed.

He added that in addition to impacts such as noise, impact upon landscape, impact on road network and compensation for local residents, land owners, developers and businesses, the Council also wanted to raise with the Government the following issues that specifically would impact upon the District.

Measham Regeneration The proposed route would have a major impact upon the Council’s ongoing regeneration efforts and growth proposals for Measham.  It would therefore request that the Government consider how the impact upon housing growth and regeneration projects such as the restoration of the Ashby canal and new wharf for Measham could be protected and even accelerated.

Re-opening Ivanhoe Passenger Line HS2 is focused on increasing capacity of the rail network. Unfortunately there are no passenger stations in NWL. It had been a long term aspiration of the Council to re-open the former passenger rail routes such as that between Leicester and Burton-upon-Trent – the “Ivanhoe line”. This would help to improve the connectivity of the District, support growth and would, in the event that the route goes through North West Leicestershire, help to offset some of the negative impacts that results for the communities of the District.

National Forest The proposed route cuts through the National Forest which is a tourism and recreation destination of vital importance to the economy of the District.  The Council would urge the Government to consider how significant additional planting and landscaping could be undertaken in advance of constructing the line to ensure that the impact on the National Forest was minimised.

He also drew Members’ attention the consultation response that had been circulated at the meeting from the Packington Nook Resident’s Association for Member’s information.

It was moved by Councillor T J Pendleton, seconded by Councillor A V Smith and

RESOLVED THAT:

Cabinet agrees the Council’s response to the consultation having regard to the comments set out in section 6 of this report and asks Council to endorse the response at its meeting on the 21 January 2014.

Reason for decision: To establish the Council’s position in respect of the HS2 proposals.

Councillor R Blunt returned to the meeting and the Chair.