The new MP for Bosworth is “very sceptical” about plans for a huge rail hub outside Hinckley, and he says he may oppose the plans.

Dr Luke Evans said he has major concerns about the traffic and infrastructure impact of the Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange, planned for a 440-acre site between the Birmingham to Leicester railway line and the M69.

The industrial park would border Burbage Common and would operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, creating 8,400 jobs.

Dr Evans said: “I continue to be very sceptical about the rail freight interchange project.

“I am still to meet all interested parties, like the Save Burbage Common group, to get the full impact of the proposals.

A plan of the rail terminal

“We have all heard the promises of the economic benefits and jobs that will be created and those projections cannot be ignored.

“But equally economic growth can never come at the expense of making local resident’s lives worse.

“I have real concerns about the impact on our roads, our schools, our doctors and other essential services – in essence the infrastructure around Hinckley and Burbage; the loss of our countryside and the impact on the lives of local people.”

poll loading

Is the Hinckley rail hub a good idea?

The scheme has been widely criticised by district and parish councils in the area, particularly over concerns about its traffic impact, with the depot to be serviced by a new sliproad at junction 2 of the M69.

Dr Evans was contacted about the rail hub by Alison Searle, co-founder of Save Burbage Common Action Group, prior to him being elected in December 2019.

There are plans for a rail hub, industrial estate and new junction for M69 near Hinckley. Picture: Google Street View

He said: “As a GP myself I very much believe in an evidence based approach to tackling problems.

“I want to know more about the proposals for the project, but if the cumulative impact is greater than the benefits then I will strongly oppose approval of the plans.”

During summer 2019, residents viewed proposed highways developments to mitigate the impact of the project, as part of a second round of informal consultations.

Developer Tritax Symmetry previously said that statutory consultation would follow the second round, including “a fully reasoned response to the informal public consultation exercises”.

Options included building a link road from junction 2 through the site and over the railway line up to Leicester Road, which it would join near the sports clubs outside Hinckley.

There are also plans for an Eastern Villages Link bypass road, which would either go between Stoney Stanton and Sapcote, from Stanton Lane to Broughton Road, or south of Sapcote from Hinckley Road to Sharnford Road.

All three of the roads would be single carriageway routes.

A map from the consultation documents for the proposed Hinckley rail hub showing the A47 link road and the Eastern Villages Link options.

Alberto Costa, MP for South Leicestershire, surveyed some of his constituents who would be affected by the rail port, with the vast majority of respondents opposing the plans.

The scheme will be decided on by the Planning Inspectorate rather than local authorities, given the national importance of the project.