The Developers of the proposed New Town at Lubbesthorpe have presented a very smooth consultation leaflet which the Leicester Forest East Residents Action Group, believe may be fundamentally flawed, for the following reasons.
The site at Lubbesthorpe is land-locked on two sides by the M69 and M1. Further, the site also shelters the medieval village of Lubbesthorpe which, because of its protected status, also limits any flow of traffic into and out of the southern end of the site.
The initial development of the site is expected to be 300 homes and the development is to be accessed from Beggers Lane and Baines Lane (motorway services slip road will have a new road leading from it directly behind the houses on Kennedy Way). Both access points ultimately lead to the A47.
Much has been made of the new bus route from the site for Lubbesthorpe residents. This will enter and leave the site via the Baines Lane/ Hinckley Road junction. Before the M1 bridge is open, this route will remain open for normal vehicular access. A dedicated bus lane will be constructed on the Hinckley Rd to join up with the bus lane leaving the Park and Ride at Meynells Gorse. The Hinckley Road will need to be widened to accommodate this bus lane and it is expected that loss of the grass verges will result.
It is anticipated, that at the second phase of the development a new bridge will cross the M1 onto Meridian Way, Thorpe Astley. LFE RAG understands that the Developers expect 47% of the development traffic to eventually use this route to ingress/egress Lubbesthorpe Town. The traffic will flow onto Lubbesthorpe Way and add to the already serious congestion on the A563 ring road.
At a time, not yet decided, a new bridge and road will be added over the M69 onto Leicester Lane, Enderby to dissipate the traffic from the southern end of the development, by which time, if this development succeeds, Lubbesthorpe New Town will cover an area which is the same size of Market Harborough!
Both LFE and Braunstone Town are in Air Quality Management Areas which are already subject to pollution in excess of UK and EU limits. The new development can only add to these excesses with a significant increase in vehicle movements per day.
