Preferred Options consultation document
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Preferred Options consultation document
AOS E - land to the north of Shouldham
Representation ID: 98465
Received: 28/10/2019
Respondent: Norfolk Orienteering Club
I am writing, as chairman, on behalf of Norfolk Orienteering Club to object to the planning application for the quarrying of silica sand mining taking place in the area of Area of Search (AOS) E and its surroundings as proposed in the Norfolk County Council Mineral & Waste Local Plan, Preferred Options July 2019.
We are a club of 120 members, who regularly use Shouldham Warren and the Sincks for our orienteering events. The area is particularly important to us as it is one of the best bits of forest in North West Norfolk, which we have access to. It is becoming increasingly difficult to get access to good quality orienteering terrain and the loss of this area would be a major blow to our club.
Our local events attract up to 150 competitors, from all age groups and with varying abilities, and are important events for our club members who live in the West part of Norfolk.
It is used for outdoor exercise by 1 000s of people; young and old. The loss of long- established woodlands would be devastating for mental health and physical well-being.
We have also used the area for regional competitions and last year the Regional Compass Sport Cup heats took place at Shouldham Warren with clubs from all over East Anglia attending. Around 500 competitors took part and the Norfolk club won the competition and for the first time in the club's history we progressed through to the National final. As part of the preparation for this event the area was professionally remapped, which involves a significant investment in time and money and which takes several years to recoup the cost by holding regular events on the area.
The destruction of woodland, never to be restored, is unacceptable at a time when Govt's policy (Clean Growth Strategy) is to increase the number of trees in the UK - "Establish a new network of forests in England ... plant 11 million trees". We are facing a Climate Crisis. Shouldham Warren is one of our precious planet's lungs, capturing 11,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. The Warren provides clean air, home to precious biodiversity, valuable educational space for children and a recreational area well used by so many people, in addition to Norfolk Orienteering club.
I object to the negative impact on villagers'/visitors' health. According to Public Health Profile 2018, our villages have higher levels of respiratory problems and reduced respiratory function (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Asthma),silica particles will exacerbate these conditions. Loss of natural spaces has been proven to adversely affect health, menta land physical. This fenland and forest (Shouldham Warren) is our community's public open space, our gym and our sanctuary, hundreds of people use it daily for physical recreation and social wellbeing interactions.
I object to the fact that the plan would ruin the Landscape, Shouldham Warren, the Countryside, including habitats for birds, animals, and insects. The Warren is home to 64 species of conservation concern, including endangered bats, nightjars and woodlarks. We need nature and trees now more than ever to combat pollution and climate change.
Our environment is our most precious inheritance," says DEFRA, so I urge Norfolk County Council to not allocate the woodlands and agricultural farmland in AOS E and remove AOS E from the Mineral & Waste Local Plan and hope that you will understand what the loss will mean to our club.
Lastly, I object to the fact that there would be no benefit to the local community or economy if this proposal goes through. What is clear is that a number of local communities will bear the brunt of a hugely disruptive and harmful industrial process; that a very popular public amenity enjoyed by a much larger section of the population will be permanently lost.
Please consider this objection to the planning application carefully, because as you see the loss of this area will have a significant impact on the local orienteering community in the west of Norfolk and will involve local members having to travel further, more often, to enjoy their sport.
I am writing, as chairman, on behalf of Norfolk Orienteering Club to object to the planning application for the quarrying of silica sand mining taking place in the area of Area of Search (AOS) E and its surroundings as proposed in the Norfolk County Council Mineral & Waste Local Plan, Preferred Options July 2019.
We are a club of 120 members, who regularly use Shouldham Warren and the Sincks for our orienteering events. The area is particularly important to us as it is one of the best bits of forest in North West Norfolk, which we have access to. It is becoming increasingly difficult to get access to good quality orienteering terrain and the loss of this area would be a major blow to our club.
Our local events attract up to 150 competitors, from all age groups and with varying abilities, and are important events for our club members who live in the West part of Norfolk.
It is used for outdoor exercise by 1 000s of people; young and old. The loss of long- established woodlands would be devastating for mental health and physical well-being.
We have also used the area for regional competitions and last year the Regional Compass Sport Cup heats took place at Shouldham Warren with clubs from all over East Anglia attending. Around 500 competitors took part and the Norfolk club won the competition and for the first time in the club's history we progressed through to the National final. As part of the preparation for this event the area was professionally remapped, which involves a significant investment in time and money and which takes several years to recoup the cost by holding regular events on the area.
The destruction of woodland, never to be restored, is unacceptable at a time when Govt's policy (Clean Growth Strategy) is to increase the number of trees in the UK - "Establish a new network of forests in England ... plant 11 million trees". We are facing a Climate Crisis. Shouldham Warren is one of our precious planet's lungs, capturing 11,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. The Warren provides clean air, home to precious biodiversity, valuable educational space for children and a recreational area well used by so many people, in addition to Norfolk Orienteering club.
I object to the negative impact on villagers'/visitors' health. According to Public Health Profile 2018, our villages have higher levels of respiratory problems and reduced respiratory function (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Asthma),silica particles will exacerbate these conditions. Loss of natural spaces has been proven to adversely affect health, menta land physical. This fenland and forest (Shouldham Warren) is our community's public open space, our gym and our sanctuary, hundreds of people use it daily for physical recreation and social wellbeing interactions.
I object to the fact that the plan would ruin the Landscape, Shouldham Warren, the Countryside, including habitats for birds, animals, and insects. The Warren is home to 64 species of conservation concern, including endangered bats, nightjars and woodlarks. We need nature and trees now more than ever to combat pollution and climate change.
Our environment is our most precious inheritance," says DEFRA, so I urge Norfolk County Council to not allocate the woodlands and agricultural farmland in AOS E and remove AOS E from the Mineral & Waste Local Plan and hope that you will understand what the loss will mean to our club.
Lastly, I object to the fact that there would be no benefit to the local community or economy if this proposal goes through. What is clear is that a number of local communities will bear the brunt of a hugely disruptive and harmful industrial process; that a very popular public amenity enjoyed by a much larger section of the population will be permanently lost.
Please consider this objection to the planning application carefully, because as you see the loss of this area will have a significant impact on the local orienteering community in the west of Norfolk and will involve local members having to travel further, more often, to enjoy their sport.
