Object

Representation ID: 98235

Received: 17/09/2019

Respondent: Mr B Donovan

I received a letter explaining proposed site MIN 71. I appreciate the balanced content of it. Agreeing to this change of use from agricultural use to a gravel extraction site raises many concerns, many of which you have mentioned.

My concerns include :
* How often have gravel extraction sites opened in Norfolk so close to a town, indeed to a residential area?
* How often have gravel extraction sites opened in Norfolk so close to protected or sensitive areas?
* How long the working day is, and how many days of the week?
* Will the site need to be flood lit during the shorter days of the week (i.e. winter)
* The plan refers to the time period up to 2036, but how long will this site stay operational?
* The impact on the value of nearby properties from now on (not just when it is operational)
* The impact on the wide range of wildlife in the direct area and surrounding. (insects to plants to birds and mammals)

* I ma trying to understand the local traffic impact...please correct me if I am wrong on the following potential concerns:

-Your link* below suggests that at least 500,000 tonnes could be extracted between 2030 and 2036?
-When full, I understand eight wheeler trucks carry up to 20 tonnes, so that will be a minimum of 500,000/20 = 25,000 journeys over 5 years approximately, i.e. 5,000 journeys per year.
- At 25 loads per day (letter says 20 to 30), that means the trucks will leave site 5000/ 25 = 200 days of the year.
- There are only about 250 working days in each year, so the site will be working maximum at 200/250 , i.e. 80% of the weekdays.
- The truck loads may average 25 times a day, but all trucks will have to go and come back so that doubles the number of times a truck may pass by me daily to 50 times a day. Over an 8 hour day, that a truck nearly every (8 x 60 mins)/ 50 = 9.6 trucks per hour... nearly every 6 minutes.

*(https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/what-we-do-and-how-we-work/policy-performance-and-partnerships/policies-and-strategies/minerals-and-waste-planning-policies/norfolk-minerals-and-waste-local-plan-review )


I can see from the plans and your letter that the following subjects have been noted , but what impact will all these aspects have, and have they been carefully and fairly reviewed:


ISSUE TO MANAGE - Noise
EFFECTS - General noise emission standards
Noise standards associated with particular types of activities
Standards associated with buffer zones
Timing restrictions on operations
Part of quarry management plan?
Use of noise barriers such as earth bunds or acoustic fences
Equipment type and insulation

ISSUE TO MANAGE - Vibration
EFFECTS - General vibration standards
Timing restrictions on operations
Part of quarry management plan?

ISSUE TO MANAGE - Dust and air quality effects
EFFECTS - Performance standards for particulate matter
Assessment criteria to determine dust effects
Best practicable option
Part of quarry management plan?

ISSUE TO MANAGE - Earthworks, stockpiling and overburden
EFFECTS - Part of quarry management plan? (including an earthworks management plan)
Assigning council responsibility
Screening and landscaping

ISSUE TO MANAGE - Traffic
EFFECTS - General traffic movement standards
Part of quarry management plan? (which often includes a traffic management plan)

ISSUE TO MANAGE - Water quality and use Guidelines
EFFECTS - Activity performance standards
Part of quarry management plan?

ISSUE TO MANAGE - Vegetation removal and ecological effects
EFFECTS - Activity performance standards
Offsetting
Quarry and landscape management plan

ISSUE TO MANAGE - Visual effects
EFFECTS - General bulk and location standards
Part of quarry management plan?
Progressive restoration and rehabilitation
Use of visual barriers such as earth bunds or solid fences

ISSUE TO MANAGE - Cultural and historic heritage values
EFFECTS - Policies relating to archaeological sites
Consultation policies and agreements
Cultural impact assessments and cultural value reports
Part of quarry management plan?
Avoiding specific sites,

ISSUE TO MANAGE - Rehabilitation
EFFECTS - Part of quarry management plan?
Rehabilitation plan