Below is Cllr Feltham's statement in full:

Dr Kevin Feltham, county councillor for Gartree which covers Great Glen and Little Stretton, said: "At a private briefing of county council officers, the leader and myself on Monday, November 26, which followed a similar briefing to Edward Garnier MP, Harborough District Council officers and members on Friday, November 23, we encouraged the developer to put something out into the public domain so that surrounding villages and residents could be provided with information about what is being proposed. Now upon reading their news release, I am very disappointed that more details have not been included giving details for relieving the pressure this enormous development would have on the local transport infrastructure.

The proposals are also flawed because this proposal for an eco-Town appears to be in direct competition with the regeneration of Leicester and the New Growth Point bids for other large developments, including affordable housing, in west and north Leicestershire.

This area around Leicester Airport has been proposed for development before – Stretton Magna – and found wanting because of the lack of transport infrastructure. It is baloney to believe the majority of people living in "Pennbury" will change the habits of a lifetime and give up their cars. If this huge settlement was developed between the A6 and A47 it will undoubtedly increase the already appalling peak-time congestion on these major routes and the Gartree Road, and yet nothing has been included in the news release to give comfort to local people or elected members.

For this proposal to be considered for shortlisting by the Government's new quango in the New Year, it must surely have some properly thought out proposals for reducing congestion, for improving transport infrastructure and ensuring sustainable employment for the new residents"