Object

Representation ID: 91827

Received: 17/07/2018

Respondent: Mr G Hardy

Whilst I am aware of the fine balance between communities and commerce I believe that the evidence to stop this pit is overwhelming.
Summary:
PROXIMITY: I am writing to you regarding the proposed Gravel Extraction Plan at Fritton woods. The border of the farm is just a few metres away from the proposed extraction area.

I have many concerns and I would like to comment on the overall insanity of the proposal. I find it difficult to understand how the matter has come this far.
It will upset each and every homeowner and resident in St Olaves, Fritton and Belton as well as causing problems to local road infrastructure, travel delays and pollution.


REQUIREMENTS: Cutting down acres of mature trees and then digging up minerals that we have an excess of locally and that are surplus to requirements; especially considering that the local council have just signed a contract to purchase such aggregates from sea bed extraction and they tell me they have no need for sand.
Over all, I very much hope that the council listens to the people that it boasts it's here to serve and not a few individuals that live many miles away, that would tear up our landscape and the lives of the local people in the pursuit of personal gain, for a product that we do not need locally nor is in short supply nationally or internationally.

LOCATION: The development is in a rural area that is considered a national park by many and is just metres away from the Norfolk Broads, one of our region's biggest assets and one that has a massive contribution to our reign financially

ECOLOGY: The development will adversely affect the outlook from the river, as well as polluting the river Waveney and killing the wildlife and its habitat.

WATER SUPPLY/POLLUTION: The water table localy to the site is permeable so the whole of the surrounding area will be affected by the pollution caused by the machinery extracting the aggregates.
The small tributary running over our farm will be polluted, by way of the water table and the polluted water will then be pumped directly into the River Waveney by a large and dedicated pump run by the Somerleyton estate that serves to drain the surrounding area including the woods.

NEW SCHEME TO ENCOURAGE RE POPULATION OF ELLS TO FRITTON LAKE
I have been part of a scheme to open up a water channels from the river at St Olaves to Fritton lake, allowing 'pump-free' running water to access the river via a tidal gate. This project would be at risk due to contamination from the close by work and dust that would pollute the water in the newly formed stream.

DRINKING WATER CONTAMINATION: There are 4 homes at the foot of the farm that rely on an Artesian aquifer for all their water needs including drinking water. Their water supply will be contaminated.

HIGHWAYS: There will be a massive increase in slow moving heavy goods vehicles on an already slow road into Great Yarmouth. This road already has massive congestion at the bridge at St Olaves at peek time.

EMERGENCY SERVICES: The A143 is the main road used by ambulances dispatched from The Paget Hospital. Large lorries accessing this road, will slow up emergency services. This road typically has over 8 Ambulances a day use it and all are time critical journeys. The slow moving and frequent lorry's will delay theses time critical journeys and may on occasion lead to unnecessary deaths as a result of critical care being delayed.

AMENITY: There will be substantial noise pollution and on top of this there will be Air pollution from the heavy machinery used to extract the sand and gravel.
The trees that surround this site do NOT act to block dust and partial contamination created by the many heavy industrial vehicles used in mineral extraction, they in fact cause the particles to be pushed up into the atmosphere. This alone is damaging to the overall health of people living nearby as well as animals and livestock.
This situation is made worse by the presence of high voltage powerlines that are present the entire length of the arear in question. Partial contamination is known to increase the instances of lunch cancer and asma related condition. livestock will be subject to increased contaminates from both the air and grazing, which will go on to be present in the food chain.

ANIMAL SANCTUARIES AND TOURISM
Hillside animal sanctuary are resident on the farm land at St Olaves and also on the grazing paddocks to the rear of the existing woods. Redwings Houses sanctuary is present on the land to the north of the woods. Fitton woods are almost surrounded by Animal sanctuaries and indeed grazing animals. There are hundreds of previously sick animals that are homed within meters of the woods whilst they recover. The noise, pollution and dust will be nothing short of torture for they already distressed animals.

Both of these animals sanctuaries and open to the public and have invested heavily in the arear. There presents have become a valuable local assets, creating employment and tourism income. Anything that jeopardises these newly located attractions would adversely affect our arear.

HEALTH & SAFETY: The pollution from the machinery has been proven to cause harm to both cattle and humans alike. It has been proven to cause many health problems and in Europe and many other countries globally has already been banned, this point is escalated given that the site is littered with high tension power lines, which have been proven by the Bristol University to ionize the dust which makes it more likely to stick to the walls of the lungs.
This in itself opens up the potential of legal action against the council from any individuals whose health might be affected over the next 20 years; especially now that the council has been made aware of the health risks in advance of granting permission.

Fire Hazzord: Fitton woods has always been a fire hazard and with active extraction this hazard would be significantly increased. A fire in this location would be devastating to our regain.