🚫 Say No to Building on Site A27 – Protect Ashby’s Green Space, Woodland and River Mease!

We, the undersigned residents and supporters, urgently oppose the inclusion of Site A27 (Land South of Burton Road / Rushey Close, Ashby-de-la-Zouch) in North West Leicestershire District Council’s emerging Local Plan.

This land is part of the River Mease Special Area of Conservation (SAC) catchment - an ecologically sensitive area that should be protected, not developed. Site A27 is surrounded by National Forest Woodland and home to wildlife, and active public footpaths, and lies next to an already finished but incomplete Bellway development where drainage, flooding, and infrastructure failures have raised serious concerns.

This will affect residents within NWLDC, visitors, and the endangered protected species.

❌ Site A27 was added with no clear public consultation, communication with residents or updated environmental assessments.

❌ It relies on an unbuilt Severn Trent 'Packington pipeline' plan with unproven impact on phosphate levels in the River Mease SSSI & SAC. Mitigation with money is no longer possible.

❌ The site is subject to ongoing water infrastructure failures and flooding into the National Forest.

❌️ Footpath connections to the neighbouring sites and the rest of the town have been either blocked (unlawfully) and/or are unsafe.

❌ Residents, councillors and stakeholders have been kept in the dark, raising issues of legality and transparency under planning regulations.

❌️ The site will set a precedent for future development in Ashby’s. Especially designated 'Open Countryside' Spaces that are outside the agreed 'Limits to Development' and protected SAC land... just like this site.

✅ We call on NWLDC and relevant authorities to:

• Remove Site A27 from the Local Plan.

• Properly assess and publish environmental, flooding, and habitat impacts.

• Prioritise reuse of brownfield and previously safeguarded HS2 land.

Let’s protect Ashby’s green corridors and ensure our planning process is lawful, transparent, and environmentally responsible before it's too late!

📢 Add your voice and share this petition! Let’s show the strength of public opposition to unnecessary, unsafe development on this irreplaceable land.