Thank you for your letters dated 261h and 301h June 2018.
As you know, this potential mineral extraction site. MIN 71, is a serious concern for us and many of our neighbours. We live in The Laurels, which is located on Holt Road (B1149), directly opposite the Hunworth Road (C267) and this proposed site.
I appreciate that you are only carrying out the Initial Public Consultation and that this doesn't grant Norfolk Gravel the right to proceed and that planning consent will be required. However, there are serious issues that both the County Council and District Council should consider before taking this matter any further.
1. Infrastructure / Highways
As you are no doubt aware, traffic congestion in and around the Georgian market town of Holt is often very serious, particularly during the holiday periods when there is an increase in the number of visitors and tourists to the area and the current infrastructure is of concern. The B1149 Holt Road is only-a 'B' road, but it carries 'A' - road traffic being the main route that runs from Norwich, past Holt and on to Fakenham. It is of major concern that there will 30 plus trucks per day using a narrow 'C' road, approaching the dangerous junction at Holt Road. We would appreciate further input from your highways department as to how this junction will be changed to accommodate the increased traffic load on an already very dangerous junction. Presumably, this can be dealt with in a S.106 agreement with the owners, should they be successful with achieving planning consent in due course. Please confirm.
2. Dust
There is no doubt that this potential mineral extraction site will create a dust problem, not only for the immediate local residents and those inhabiting Holt, but it will also affect the young children at Holt Primary School, situated no more than 100 m from this site, and also the children at Gresham's pre-prep and prep schools, whose boundary adjoins the main Cromer Road. We would appreciate a full report on how the dust will affect the location. I note that you have concluded that 'Dust suppression measures will be necessary to ensure that dust deposition does not affect the integrity of Norfolk Valley Fens SAC', but surely it is more important to protect the people that live in the immediate vicinity?
3. Noise impact
I can clearly hear the works and transporters that are using the existing Cemex site daily and it can also be heard by residents in the centre of Holt. The proposed site will be closer to us and to Holt, so the noise impact will increase and be a serious concern.
4. Other matters
I note that you have requested other matters to be resolved and reports completed, as outlined below, and I look forward to receiving copies of these, in addition to the matters raised above.
* Hydrogeological Risk Assessment;
* Standoff /buffer zone plans;
* Confirmation of site restoration;
* A Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment;
* A Heritage Statement;
* An Archaeological Assessment.
I understand that there are already three mineral extraction sites within the immediate vicinity- Cemex (Hunworth Road), Gresham Sand and Gravel (Cromer Road), which is a new quarry, and Norfolk Gravel - Sheringham Quarry- (Britons Lane). There are also sites further south and west. Please could we have an explanation as to why there needs to be further extraction from North Norfolk close to a Georgian town and where the products are sold? Are the minerals extracted for use in the UK or are they exported?
Please take this letter as formal notice of our objection to this land being designated as a potential Mineral Extraction site. Please confirm receipt of this letter.