BABTAG QuestionnaireAnalysis of Responses

February 2011

Questionnaire Response Rate

Number Issued: 316 Number Returned: 141

Response Rate: 44.6%

Q1. Do you agree with the objectives of BABTAG? (a) to oppose the proposal to build 5000 new houses and 50 hectares of employment land to east of Thurmaston and north of Hamilton?

(b) To defend the identity and integrity of Barkby, Barkby Thorpe and Hamilton Grounds?

(c) To run a public campaign targeting opinion formers and the local media?

Q2. If the alternative to preventing a new town of 5000 houses was limited housing development in our villages,

should BABTAG (with appropriate safeguards) accept this?

Q3. Would the offer of community facilities change your position on accepting the new town development?

Q4. Should BABTAG seek active participation in consultations between local authorities and local communities and their

action groups?

Ad Hoc Comments

Grouped by Subject

Traffic

Strong points to be made on the amount of congestion already around Asda / Thurmaston area and on A46 and Hobby Horse traffic island. The roads around the villages are already very busy

There is too much traffic through the village already

I think there is too much traffic going through the village and 5000 new houses would make the roads far worse!

Consultation concerning the traffic which passes through this village before any development takes place

Perhaps we should pursue the congestion charge plan. This might present another obstacle to potential developers

Traffic (2)

How would the roads cope? At the moment the roads, i.e. country lanes, are more like motorways with the volume of traffic

Speed bumps throughout the village

Change priority at the top of the hill by the cricket field, encouraging traffic to continue along towards the Asda island

Traffic volumes through the village causes problems despite measures to slow it down. This spoils the integrity of our village

Less traffic through the villages would be a bonus!

Traffic (3)

Although limited housing development may seem to be an acceptable alternative to a large new town, consideration must be given to the traffic situation in Barkby, Barkby Thorpe & Hamilton. The traffic calming measures put in place following the housing developments at Syston have made no difference to either the volume or speed of traffic which passes through our village. Barkby is still an attractive option to the motorist wishing to take a short cut into Leicester

Good Work

Keep going – do good work keeping it in public eye I support any decisions that BABTAG make BABTAG should keep up their campaigns with the support of

the villagers to oppose any houses being built now or in the future

Be strong – be seen to be reasonable but with light on BABTAG’s side, fight on

Keep up the good work you have already done. Well done, we really appreciate it

I feel BABTAG is doing a marvellous job and appreciate the time and energy you are giving. Is an asset to our village

Good job – keep it up! I feel the work you are undertaking is very necessary and

would support you all the way Congratulations on a job well done to date, carry on the

good work, many thanks

Heritage

The rural setting is an integral part of our unique village / farming community and should be protected

Keep villages as villages and countryside as countryside, don’t lose them for good

We want to stay as a village Continue to defend the identity and present status of Barkby,

Barkby Thorpe and Hamilton Grounds. The infrastructure of the whole area is at critical level – more housing development will only add to more congestion and more environmental damage

We came to live in the countryside and would like to stay that way Barkby and Barkby Thorpe are villages and need to stay that way

– we don’t want to be part of any other community, we like it as we are. So we mustn’t falter with our plans – keep going

To continue to oppose any development in out countryside, we live here for the open space and green fields and don’t want to be surrounded by houses and concrete

To do everything possible to keep our villages as they are at present. We don’t want or need any development

Farming This land is more and more important to grow food

not to build and build resulting in higher flood areas. Not only the clinics, schools, roads etc can’t cope with all the above, not forgetting the electric demand. We MUST keep our food productivity going. Keep the land for dairy and arable.

To lose the identity of the farming land in Barkby, Barkby Thorpe and Hamilton would be terrible

For the above areas to remain intact – protecting their identity – rural beauty and function. To protect the farms and farmland for future generations and ongoing production of local food and tradition in these forthcoming challenging times

Other Locations

There are numerous houses for sale almost on our doorstep that no one can afford to buy. We don’t need more

Whilst I appreciate the need for growth, how many properties are standing empty around Leicestershire.? To allow this to go ahead and destroy this village and surrounding area would be catastrophic for the farming land and countryside of Leicestershire

There are plenty of more suitable sites for development along the A46 and A47

Rebuild the derelict buildings in the cities and the run down areas

There are many houses in other areas not occupied at all – why can’t they be used?

False Promises / Clarifiers to Questions

2 & 3

To even consider part of the development being accepted would need for me an additional village hall equal to the one we already have. Please do not be taken in by new Government politics. This lot have reneged on more election promises in eight months than a normal government does in five years

I am not interested in any ‘bribe’ offered by the developers at any price! I feel should any other facilities be required then we can do this ourselves i.e. Cricket pavilion. I would be in agreement with some local building, after all our children will possibly want to stay local. But only with the scrutiny of BABTAG

Regardless of promises given by local Borough Councillors – do not take these seriously. Keep focused on the long term damage proposed to the environment. Once land has gone it has gone forever

If we start meeting them half way they will continue to build on and on and on until they have got what they wanted, so we need to stop the building and stop it for good. For the village of Barkby and Barkby Thorpe, we will never get it back once it has gone

Miscellaneous

With so many Government spending cuts – surely it is very unlikely that the proposed new houses will be built?

Agreeing to Question 4 does not imply an acceptance of the need for the building of the 5000 houses