Villagers fight homes plan - Submitted 28 Jan 2009

Villagers are fighting proposals to build thousands of homes on the edge of their village.

Hundreds of people in Kirby Muxloe fear the village's identity could be lost, traffic will increase and their quality of life affected if 3,500 homes are built nearby.

It has been chosen as one of three options for new homes to be built by Blaby District Council, which has to find space for 8,650 homes by 2026 to meet Government targets".

One of them lies to the west of Kirby Muxloe " B ", another is near Leicester Forest East " C " and the other to the south of Glenfield " A ".

Kirby Muxloe Parish Council believes the Leicester Forest East site " C " between the M1 and Beggars Lane is the most suitable option. More than 200 people turned out to a 'public meeting to spell out why they were against the plans

Ruth Buckingham, chairperson of Kirby Muxloe parish council, said "The rural nature and landscape will be lost and, Kirby will be surrounded."

One resident gave a presentation to the meeting held in the village hall said, "The Leicester Forest East site is the largest of them all".

"The Kirby Muxloe site " B " can't accommodate 3,500 homes, it would mean about 12,000 people, who would make Kirby a new town of about 16,000 with the obvious loss of its village character".

Another resident said: "Have they thought about the facilities? "This village is going to get swamped with traffic."

A Villager, said: "The amount of energy required to power 3,500 homes will be huge. "These proposals are talking about having wind turbines but you would need at least 12 or 13 of them."

Hundreds of leaflets calling on Blaby Council to go with the Leicester Forest East site " C " have been signed by Kirby Muxloe villagers.

Leader of Leicestershire County Council David Parsons, said the authority had also told Blaby that it favoured development south of Leicester Forest East " C ".

Mr Parsons was reporting the position of the Leicestershire County Council to the public meeting which is that such development would only be supported if there was substancial space between Leicester Forest East and any future development toward the M1/M69 junction including the planting of the old Leicester Forest. The county council feels that the substancial delineation between settlements is very important.

Councillor Parsons said he was aware a developer wanted to build about 1,000 homes at the top of Blood's Hill, near Ratby Lane, and that this also needed to be taken into account. He also promised to make representations to Parliament on the issue.

Blaby District Council will carry out a public consultation for six weeks this summer before it tells the Government where it believes new homes should be built. '

Kirby Muxloe Residents have until Monday to deliver their objections to the parish council offices in Station Road.

Leicester Forest East residents will have an opportunity to to discuss the proposals to build 1000's of houses in the parish, at a public meeting called by the Parish Council at the parish hall on Kings Drive. County Councillor David Parsons will be attending the meeting.

L.F.E. Meeting Confirmed 10th MARCH 2009 - 7pm at the Parish Hall.