Written statement in relation to & Barwell Area Action Plan Village/Town Centre Redevelopment Developers have, in the background, been progressing with stakeholders as to the detailed form that the village centre improvements will take place. I question whether this should be a statutory part requirement upon the developers to continue to liaise with local groups to achieve the best outcome for residents? I would also note at this point that the Business Association has been dissolved, as there is a lack of interest in the incumbent business community to expand; strong interest has however been expressed by new parties looking to move to the area to take full advantage of the opportunities available.

A key design philosophy for the Area Action Plan has been to retain and expand where practical the existing village centre. I would suggest that the Council’s stance is to afford relevant opportunities for both outcomes (of services in the Village Centre with preference over the SUE) is sustainable and wholly complicit with a desire to enhance the settlement as a whole. Highways Modelling and Related Issues Following changes to the modelling provided by County Council and the Highways Agency, I now question whether the new model meets future growth requirements?

Specifically clear capacity issues exist within the A5 corridor as a result of the current situation, in particular caused by high capacity uses between the A47 junctions; can the HA clearly identify that the improvements identified are deliverable, or whether additional measures are required? By way of an example, provision of full access to premises such as Aldi and BP is not consistent with the good and proper flow of traffic through this narrow section of the A5, and each turning movement occupies several paths along the main route.

I also question whether Leicestershire County Council has put full and proper consideration into what public transport measures should be considered? Whilst a bus service to Railway Station is provided for, what measures will Leicestershire County Council put in place to liaise with train operators to provide the requite level of service? Given the deemed increase in the number of journeys towards the West Midlands, is a simple hourly service to Birmingham sufficient? Where has Leicestershire County Council committed to fulfil its public transport obligations to limit the requirement for additional motor vehicle journeys? [These are perhaps measures that do not require financial contributions from developers, but rather the need for proper communication with the relevant agencies.]

I have not seen a recent map clarifying what cycling provision will be put in place between Barwell, Earl Shilton and Hinckley. Many new jobs have been created South of Hinckley which will require shift work outside of the hours where Public Transport will be in operation, and it is imperative that safe and proper means are available for transportation.

Councillor David Gould Barwell Ward Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council