Edward Garnier, MP for Harborough, Oadby and Wigston, has written to Norman Proudfoot, Deputy Chief Executive of Harborough District Council, regarding the proposed development between the Innovation Centre, Airfield Farm and Lubenham Hill. He wrote: “…excessive development will cause irreparable damage to the visual outlook and wider environs as well as the amenity and ecological value of the land in question, ” a view that is shared by the numerous constituents that have written to Mr Garnier about this issue.
Mr Garnier has been in contact with the local campaign group, MHRAID (Market Harborough Residents Against Inappropriate Development), and other constituents outside the group for several months. He also wrote to Anna Graves, Chief Executive of Harborough District Council in May about the proposed development. Mr Garnier agrees with MHRAID that if one of the four options proposed by the Council is to be adopted, Option A is the least worst one and the least damaging to the environment and local infrastructure, albeit that it would lead to 1000 homes being built at the Airfield Farm site.
Option A would mean the construction of a village similar in size to Great Bowden and largely supported by its own facilities. Edward Garnier and MHRAID believe this option to be the least likely to disturb Market Harborough’s character and facilities.
The MP said: “I am particularly concerned about the proposed link road from the development which would lead to serious traffic congestion as well as posing as a threat to the safety of residents and other road users if options B, C or D were to be chosen. The development will impact on the lives of those living in Lubenham and Market Harborough and needs to be thought out properly, taking into account the real concerns of the residents of the surrounding areas”.