Storm Henk

The start of the year saw the first major storm of 2024, Storm Henk, which had devastating effects on parts of our District. People were only returning to normal life after the Christmas holidays when the storm hit.

Roads were closed, fields submerged and sadly more than 150 homes and businesses, including Sharnford, suffered either external or internal flooding. Many residents had to vacate their properties and cope with the upset of widespread damage and loss of belongings, including treasured personal items.

This is the worst incident of flooding we have seen in the district with highest ever recorded river levels and it was harrowing to see the trauma it caused.

We are pleased to let you know that the Flood Funding pages on Blaby DC website is now live www.blaby.gov.uk/flood-funding.   For those residents and businesses that were impacted and provided Blaby DC with an email address, we have just distributed the following email to make them aware that the application process is now open.

Applications Open for Flood Recovery Funding (mailchi.mp)

Councillor Activities   

During January 2024 there have been many training events and meetings attended by one or both of your councillors: 

• On-line meeting with Rupert Matthews – Police & Crime Commissioner Leicestershire & Rutland – 8th.
• Scrutiny of Budget Proposals Meeting – 10th
• Planning Committee – 11th
• Elmesthorpe Parish Council – 11th.
• Sapcote Parish Council – 11th
• Scrutiny of Administrations Budget Proposals Meeting – 17th
• Sharnford Parish Council – 18th
• Training – Introduction to Scrutiny – 19th
• Meeting with residents of Castlewood Park, Aston Firs – 22nd
• HNRFI Examination Traffic, Transport, and Noise – 24th
• Scrutiny of Administrations Budget Proposals Meeting – 24th
• District Council Meeting – 30th

During February there are the following training events and meetings that will be attended by one or both of your councillors:

• Training- Planning Committee hosted by Planning Advisory Service – 1st.
• Sapcote Parish Council – 1st.
• Training – Audit & Governance Committee – 5th.
• Planning Committee 8th.
• Audit & Governance Committee – 12th.
• Training – Code of Conduct – 15th.
• Sharnford Parish Council – 15th.
• District Council Meeting – 27th.
• Blaby Youth Conference – 29th.

News Releases

• Help offered to families affected by Storm Henk.
• Changes to bin collection days.
• From Council depot to police constable.
• Rogue taxi driver used unlicensed car for customer trips.
• Residents’ Survey and Budget Consultation 2024.
• Taste the Place Launch
• Deadline looms for final round of Community Grants Scheme

HNRFI Update – Examination

The Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange will remain in our monthly reports until the final decision is made by the Secretary of State 

A full day’s examination by the Planning Inspectorate on 24th January was attended by the applicant Tritax, Leicestershire County Council, Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council, Warwickshire County Council, National Highways, Friends of Narborough Station and your local representatives:

• Blaby DC Planning Authority
• Cllr Terry Richardson – Leader of Blaby DC
• Cllr Maggie Wright – County Councillor
• Cllr Ben Taylor – Fosse Highcross Ward
• Cllr Mike Shirley – Fosse Highcross Ward
• Cllr Janet Forey – Narborough & Littlethorpe Ward

It was noticeable by their absence that National Rail had nothing to contribute to the proceedings even though this warehouse development relied on a rail link to enable the developer to circumvent the local planning authority by calling it a Strategic Rail Freight Interchange. Needless to say, the Planning Inspector was understandably annoyed that National Rail could not be bothered to turn up.

Since the beginning of the Examination the applicant, Tritax, has been sadly lacking in providing information and has now been instructed by the Planning Inspector to provide missing data by the next deadline D5, 9th February 2024.  Information required:

1. Continuous review of local junctions
2. Over-height HGV’s
3. Road works on A5 and M69
4. Structural integrity of M69 Junction 2
5. Narborough Level Crossing – vehicle queue length when crossing is closed.
6. HGV Routing, Monitoring and Enforcement
7. Traffic Modelling
8. Sustainable Travel Connections
9. Noise – the effect of traffic and rail noise on local residents and Burbage Common biodiversity.

We will continue to fight to stop the HNRFI proposals as we move forward through the examination and beyond.   

Major Blaby District Planning Applications 

21/1497/FUL – Abbey Farm, Lubbesthorpe Bridle Road, Lubbesthorpe.
Restoration and conversion of Abbey Farm Site for 7 dwellings.  Approved

22/1204/FUL – Land Northeast of Earl Shilton, Earl Shilton Road.
Construction and operation of battery energy storage facility. Approved

23/0094/DOC – Land to Southwest of Cork Lane, Glen Parva.
Partial discharge of Condition 11 for development of former landfill site.  Approved

23/0622/VAR – Marks and Spencer PLC, Fosse Park Shopping Centre.
Variation to condition 8 attached to planning permission 08/0833/1/VY to specify the net sales area to be used for the sale of food. Approved

23/0845/OUT – Land at Strawberry Cottage, Hinckley Road, Sapcote.
Development of eight serviced plots to deliver self-build and custom dwellings (outline application for access only). Approved

Local Planning Applications

23/0992/HH – 30 Billington Road West, Elmesthorpe, LE9 7SD
S storey rear extension.

23/1072/OUT – Land south of Orchard Lea Close, Cooks Lane, Sapcote LE9 4FE
Outline application for residential development of up to 5 self-build dwellings.

24/0046/HH – 34 Stanton Road, Sapcote, LE9 4FQ
Car Port (resubmission of application 20/1141/HH)

Local Planning Enforcement Notices

No new Enforcement Notice

Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council Planning Application – Update

23/00673/OUT – Land opposite and south of pumping station, Aston Flamville Road, Burbage.
Residential development of up to 343 dwellings either side of Aston Flamville Road.
This application is currently under appeal with the Planning Inspectorate, but the following documents are now available:

National Highways – National Highways no longer object to the application but require that certain conditions are met if approval is given.

NHS Integrated Care Board – NHS require a financial contribution to be able to provide healthcare facilities for the population increase of approximately 830.
Total Contribution - £265,619

PDF version of this newsletter can be downloaded from the link below.