Object

Representation ID: 98095

Received: 25/10/2019

Respondent: Emma Greene

I wish to lodge my objection to the proposed quarry plans for area AOS E as a preferred area for silica sand extraction.
I also wish to lodge my objection to the plans to use a large area of SIL02 located within AOS E. We were told SIL02 was no longer being considered but a third of it still is, as part of AOS E.
As a resident of Marham living in close proximity to this planned development I, like most, am totally against these plans.
The reasons for my objection to the above are as follows;
1. Environmental issues
* The land in question is high quality agricultural land and a forest. The Carbon footprint of the area will be greatly affected by the removal of such a large area of agricultural land and forested area.
* Any disturbance will have dramatic consequences to the biodiversity of the flora and fauna found within this and the surrounding area; including mammals, reptiles, birds and mating birds of prey.
* Due to the depth of the dig, quality and volume of material to be removed it will be impossible to return the land to its existing productivity levels to return back to agricultural status.
* Any screening or boarding of the site to reduce noise and light pollution will ruin this beautiful landscape and views currently seen across the fen. Where will all the removed soil be stored from the land stripping process? How will boarding reduce light and sound pollution from spreading within such an open area based near an active RAF base?
* Detrimental impacts on ecology and biodiversity on nearby Country Wildlife Sites
* Destruction of habitat of endangered wildlife species and breeding pairs.


2. Health and safety

The dust created by such a development will cause health and safety issues. The wind typically blows from this site directly towards Marham. Under these circumstances the smaller particles of sand and dust will travel long distances and easily reach properties in Marham and Shouldham. This area of land is extremely flat with no natural barriers to slow or prevent the movement of dust and fine particles from the site to the adjacent properties. The effects of this on the health of the elderly, asthma sufferers and those with breathing issues will be significant. The effects of Inhalation of minimal silica particles has been documented within private studies, the construction industry and the NHS.
3. Noise, dust and light pollution
* The area under consideration is extremely flat with no natural noise, light or dust barriers. Therefore screening will be ineffective and the entire site will be visible to the majority of the residents of Marham. There is no bunding large enough to provide a barrier against the noise and light pollution that this will create. The noise, dust and light pollution from the estimated 11 hour day land stripping and 24 hour a day 7 days a week dredging is totally unacceptable.
4. Access to site
The local single track country road network is poor and insufficient for such a project. I believe there is a possibility of installing a pipeline from this site to transport the sand for processing but no allowance has been made for the heavy duty equipment necessary for land stripping.
5. The Water Table / Flood plain
* The majority of the land under review is currently part of a HIGH RISK flood plain. The plan by Sibelco is to flood the fenland area in order to dredge the sand. This will only increase the chance of future flooding in the area in the absence of the flood plain.
* Any Bunding and piles of surface soil and clay will only reduce the natural flow of water and increase the risk of flooding further.
* Anglian water have a sewage pumping station in close proximity to the site. They also have a number of bore holes across Marham Fen for the extraction of clean water, how will these be affected by the plan.
6. Increased risk of Bird Strikes on aircraft
* Concerns have already been expressed and documented by the Council on a restoration plan after the 20 year period involving the creation of a lake and wetlands. In accordance with government guidelines there should be a 13km radius from the centre point of RAF Marham designated as a safeguarding area against bird strike, industrial lighting etc. This area is prone to flooding and will flood once material is extracted. The flooding of the area either during the dredging process or on completion of the sand removal is of concern as this will increase the number of birds and wild fowl resulting in potential bird strikes on expensive aircraft in close proximity to RAF Marham.
7. Value to the community.
* What is the value of such a project to the local community and Britain? Sibelco is not a British company, its head offices are based in Belgium. The value of this type of sand is extremely high and profits made from the sale of this material will be of great value to BELGIUM and not the UK.
* There will also be no job benefits to the local community as the manpower required to run the planned dredging operations is less than the current services of those working the land. There will therefore be a reduction in jobs and absolutely no value or benefit of such a scheme to the local community.
* No proposed economic benefit for the villages of Marham or Shouldham
8. Property Value
* This will significantly reduce the value of properties in and around Marham and Shouldham for at least 28 years. Who wants to live near and look at a Silica sand extraction plant that will be in opened from 2026 and in operation for at least 20 years, probably much longer?
b. Potential increase on home insurance due to increased flood risk
Please accept the above points as part of our formal objection to the planned sand extraction Site AOS E and the area SIL 02 still contained within it.