Preferred Options consultation document

Object

Representation ID: 98476

Received: 28/10/2019

Respondent: Stratton Strawless parish council

I am writing to you on behalf of Stratton Strawless Parish Council regarding the Norfolk County Council Minerals and Waste Local Plan (NMWLP) preferred options consultation, reference MIN 213 Mansom Plantation, Shortthorn Road.
The Parish Council strongly OBJECTS to the proposal on the following grounds;
* Mansom Plantation is located at the centre of the parish, with residences in close proximity to its boundaries.
* The site provides a habitat for a variety of wildlife, including reptiles. Great Crested Newts have been recorded inhabiting ponds located on the site It is a long established migratory route for deer. These habitats, all the trees and the eco system across at least a 20.3 hectare area would be totally destroyed by the excavations.
* On the Northern boundary of the site is Hevingham Park, a County Wildlife Site, an important amenity, which would be affected.
* Extant planning permission for a holiday lodge park on the site was won on appeal. A S106 agreement exists as part of this approval, together with tree protection orders ("To retain and diversify existing woodlands and trees, which contribute to the appearance of the landscape" etc. "To retain, protect and enhance the ponds and drainage ditches of the land").
* NCC NMWLP Committee members have raised their own concerns regarding the consultation distance of 250 metres not being far reaching enough from neighbouring properties. * The excavation operation and processing plant will generate high levels of noise nuisance and dust, which will be endured by residents over a period of at least eight years while extraction takes place.
* The estimated 76 vehicle movements a day would increase traffic flow onto the A140. There is already difficulty in joining the A 140, particularly at peak times, both from Shortthorn Road and Parish Road, making the route along Shortthorn Road an attractive alternative for heavy vehicles. These roads have no footways and are therefore hazardous for pedestrians and cyclists. The Woodland View mobile home park will also be impacted by this extra traffic, where pedestrians have to cross the A 140, a road with a 60mph speed limit, to get to their bus stop.
* No information has been provided on what would be used to restore the site, or how this would be done. NCC states that the site will be restored to accommodate holiday lodges and create heathland when excavations come to an end. It is felt that restoration of the site would take many years to achieve.
The following points have been raised concerning the supporting information associated with the site:
Point 11 - states "The site must be worked wet without dewatering". The council has serious concerns due to the high-water table; extraction would have to take place in several feet of water. There is potential for pollution and it is said to be more difficult to restore sites that are worked wet. It appears MIN213 is the only site in the Broadland area to be put forward to be worked wet. It is believed there is a risk of groundwater being contaminated during the wet extraction process. The groundwater levels may be impacted and also affect ponds. Heavy machinery has the potential to create compaction of the soil which could also influence surface water flow.
Point 14 - As an aquifer is an underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock, rock fractures or unconsolidated materials (gravel, sand, or silt), the removal of gravel will disrupt the aquifer storage capability. This can produce a situation where in wet weather, flooding is more likely and in dry weather, there would be less water available during drought conditions. This would in turn affect the remaining trees and ponds on site, the Hevingham Park County Wildlife Site, and beyond.
Point 15 - There is no mention of chalk as a principle aquifer in connection with crag and gravels. Wroxham Crag is a mixture of sand, clay, silts and stones resting on a base of chalk.
Point 16 - It is very likely the Hevingham water course would be affected. Flows are a supporting element in the Water Framework Directive.
Point 17 - states "There are no Anglian Water Sewerage Assets or water assets on the site". An Anglian Water building is located at Mansom Plantation which is a vacuum pumping station (SEW-07998), part of the first-time sewerage scheme, with underground assets: Valve chamber, bio filter, wet well - constructed below ground.
There are eight proposed sites put forward for Broadland and two have already been classed as "not suitable". Of the remaining sites, one has been partially extracted and one is proposed on land north of an existing quarry. The remaining proposals are extensions to existing sites, with the exception of MIN213, which may seem an attractive prospect for a new site. The Parish Council believes' it is not suitable for the foregoing reasons.
The Parish Council trusts that serious consideration will be given to the points highlighted in this letter.

Object

Representation ID: 98567

Received: 29/10/2019

Respondent: Stratton Strawless parish council

Number of people: 104

A Petition signed by 104 local residents as follows:
MIN 213 - Land at Mansom Plantation, Shortthorn Road
Petition summary and background: Norfolk County Council has proposed Mansom Plantation, Shortthorn Road, as one of their Preferred Options for the extraction of sand and gravel in their Norfolk Minerals and Waste Local Plan. The proposal is currently at the consultation stage, which will last until 30 October 2019. The character of the parish could be affected by this for a long time to come. The Parish Council hope that this petition will bring the concerns of residents of Stratton Strawless to the attention of Norfolk County Council.
Action Petitioned for: We, the undersigned, as concerned residents of Stratton Strawless object to the proposed use of land at Mansom Plantation, as one of the Preferred Options for the extraction of sand and gravel.
The following comments were made by individuals who signed the petition:
Too much unwanted traffic and noise / Traffic and noise
Too noisy / dreading the noise / Noise of drills
Too much traffic / Traffic danger / Road and traffic conditions / road surface, accident hotspot /
small lane / roads too busy / danger of lorry / Difficulty to cross road / traffic situation is bad enough
pollution / mud
It is the centre of the village / not appropriate for the middle of a village
Not in keeping with historic value of village
Totally inappropriate beside residential properties
Danger / Too dangerous
Keep Stratton Strawless as it is. We don't need no more lorries.
Not wanted / Do not want it / Do not agree / disagree / object / very strong object / Disgraceful idea / strongly against / no way / General objection / Do not like it at all /
Too much pressure on the environment / Danger to wildlife / destruction to wildlife / water flow, crested newts
Destruction of woodland / concerned about loss of woodland and habitat
Not going to happen
Object strongly due to environmental damage and social inconvenience
Rather caravan park than quarry
Why do we need this
It is not the direction I would wish this village to take / spoil character of village
how would you feel about a quarry near you