Eco-town traffic plans outlined

Plans to deal with added traffic from a possible 15,000-home development in Leicestershire have been outlined by the developer.

The Co-operative Group is putting forward ideas for new transport links if the town south of Leicester, known as Pennbury, gets the go ahead.

These include a new train station, a park-and-ride service and financial incentives for using public transport.

But opponents said the plans were too vague to allow proper debate.

Wide consultation

The government has shortlisted 15 developments for carbon neutral housing schemes across the UK.

The Co-operative Group said work on the rail line near Great Glen provided an opportunity to construct a freight line and a possible passenger service.

Other proposals include new park-and-ride facilities on the A6 & A47 and car-sharing schemes.

The group insisted its plans were practical as it had consulted widely with local authorities and government bodies.

Infrastructure worries

Graham Ramsbottom from Co-Operative Estates said their plans were based on making it more convenient not to use a car.

"As sure as eggs is eggs we are going to have to prove this eco-town is not going to add to problems on the network, it is going to solve them.

"If we can't prove that then we have a problem bringing forward our designs but we are confident we can do that."

Dr Kevin Feltham is head of a group opposed to the scheme.

"There are some interesting ideas here but very little detail, it is still awfully conceptual.

"We don't want the eco-town and certainly not in this location. They have dismissed a link to the motorway and I think those proposals closer to existing infrastructure will be seen as more viable."

The shortlisted projects will submit detailed plans by October after which the government will announce which 10 will get the green light.