Object
Initial Consultation document
Representation ID: 92195
Received: 15/08/2018
Respondent: Mr & Mrs D & J Bland
Number of people: 2
As residents of Shouldham, we were very surprised to receive details from an anonymous source of the proposed excavation of silica sand at a site between Shouldham and Marham.
We attended the meeting of Parish Councillors held at Shouldham on Monday evening, 6 August to listen to details of the proposed scheme. It was also noted that there was no representation from the Council, despite this proposal being centrally in your area.
It was also confirmed that despite this proposal being "on the table" with various bodies for some time, the Parish Councillors of both Shouldham and Marham, decided that it was not worthy of notification to the residents of the two villagers. We were also informed that there were 5 days outstanding to submit any objections against the scheme.
This proposed excavation site is totally inappropriate for a rural area, that lacks infrastructure. The mess, noise, tipper trucks, upheaval and general scars on the countryside can be seen in and around the many sand / gravel quarries already operating in West Norfolk. There are not even single carriageway roads in the site area, with single tracks currently used by the farmers. The method proposed at the meeting for moving raw material, by pipelines, across country to Leziate is totally not in keeping with a very rural location. No major roads, railways or waterways exist locally to provide methods for transportation, as currently silica is moved from Leziate by trains.
There are also major health concerns, with large 24/7 industrial operations, of this nature, with dust problems, COPD and silicosis particularly prevalent.
The residents should have been afforded the courtesy of being notified earlier of this proposed excavation and would expect that prompt and ongoing communications would be held with both villagers as the feeling is very high, fuelled particularly by the lack of notification from the Parish Councils.
We certainly object to this proposal as totally inappropriate, and would expect updates to all affected, together with an impact statement and schedule of actions and timings, particularly relevant as the local farmers have already given their approvals for this extraction scheme.
As residents of Shouldham, we were very surprised to receive details from an anonymous source of the proposed excavation of silica sand at a site between Shouldham and Marham.
We attended the meeting of Parish Councillors held at Shouldham on Monday evening, 6 August to listen to details of the proposed scheme. It was also noted that there was no representation from the Council, despite this proposal being centrally in your area.
It was also confirmed that despite this proposal being "on the table" with various bodies for some time, the Parish Councillors of both Shouldham and Marham, decided that it was not worthy of notification to the residents of the two villagers. We were also informed that there were 5 days outstanding to submit any objections against the scheme.
This proposed excavation site is totally inappropriate for a rural area, that lacks infrastructure. The mess, noise, tipper trucks, upheaval and general scars on the countryside can be seen in and around the many sand / gravel quarries already operating in West Norfolk. There are not even single carriageway roads in the site area, with single tracks currently used by the farmers. The method proposed at the meeting for moving raw material, by pipelines, across country to Leziate is totally not in keeping with a very rural location. No major roads, railways or waterways exist locally to provide methods for transportation, as currently silica is moved from Leziate by trains.
There are also major health concerns, with large 24/7 industrial operations, of this nature, with dust problems, COPD and silicosis particularly prevalent.
The residents should have been afforded the courtesy of being notified earlier of this proposed excavation and would expect that prompt and ongoing communications would be held with both villagers as the feeling is very high, fuelled particularly by the lack of notification from the Parish Councils.
We certainly object to this proposal as totally inappropriate, and would expect updates to all affected, together with an impact statement and schedule of actions and timings, particularly relevant as the local farmers have already given their approvals for this extraction scheme.