Please consider this letter my personal objection to the proposed development of a mineral extraction site between New Road, Fritton and the river Waveney. The proposed area is and always has been an area of natural seclusion, for both the people, plants and animals. And whether the area is forested or left fallow, as much of it currently seems, it quickly returns to a beautiful wilderness state, coveted by all who know it.

I have lived in the immediate area for many years, (Actually within 250m of the proposed site, as your departments recent letter to me confirmed.) was married in Fritton church and have three generations of the Wadeson family living within the village of Fritton. As a local proud of our beautiful village aspect, it saddens me greatly that Brett Aggregates is once again seeking to put profitability (read 'economic growth' in their words, if you like) ahead of the well-known and well publicised environmental concerns held by many hundreds of residents in the area.

I understand that by due process it is your role to listen to both sides of this kind of argument and address any such plans in a fair and reasonable manner. But I also feel that the situation has changed insufficiently in the last ten years to make the outcome of this application any different from the last. As such I would ask you to come to the same conclusions that your department did in the previous application a decade ago and dismiss it. All of the villagers in Fritton, St Olaves, Belton and Halvergate, that I have spoken to are extremely worried about the suggestion of aggregate extraction in proximity to their homes. This concern is also backed up by the potential for reduction in air quality and the certain environmental impact. Adding to this consternation is the air of confusion relating to the subsequent use of the land, and the anger around suggestions of landfill options being prepared by the land owners. The term nightmare doesn't even come close to describing this.

One further thing, and possibly the greatest immediate concern for the villages of Fritton and St Olaves, is the plan to use the A143 for removal of the aggregate by road. Only this afternoon we witnessed the aftermath of a road traffic collision outside our house which involved a large slow-moving vehicle. (We live on the A143 between the two villages.) These situations occur quite rarely now but would certainly stand the chance of a significant uplift in frequency if the traffic were increased by tens or hundreds of trips by heavy vehicles, (both full and empty) turning onto the route each day. Of course, this would lead to an unprecedented level of disruption to existing industry traffic and commuters using the route.

Whilst I am sure that some thought has been given to access, I would also like to point out that I have not yet seen a viable plan which mitigates traffic problems on the Fritton turnpike, or via the historic iron bridge in St Olaves which is already a local traffic bottleneck. If such a plan exists, I would welcome the chance to review it. In the instance of aggregate traffic, I would also ask you to speak with other villages and parish's that would also be affected on the possible road transport routes, including: Haddiscoe, Somerleyton, Bradwell, Toft Monks, Hales and further afield even in Beccles and Loddon.

As my own voice is just one of many in this matter, I don't expect a response to my letter but do hope that you or somebody in your department reads it and understands the sentiment in which it is written. The fear and loathing towards this plan within our community is very difficult to describe to those on the outside, and for those in authority it may look like we are a small group standing in the way of progress or change. In fact, this view could not be further from the truth. As a community we love the area where we live and the prospect of it being reduced to a commodity is tantamount to the rape of something the we hold very dear. I apologise if this seems strong, but I don't think it overstates the feeling of our community.

I hope this letter starts to convey the strength of feeling towards this plan and welcome the opportunity to speak with you directly in the matter, should you feel the need to discuss it further. Please feel free to contact me anytime.