StoPit Planning Application Objections
Planning Application - WRITE YOUR LETTERS NOW
NOW is the time to write a letter to your Councillors and more importantly, to the planning team at Norfolk County Council.
Write to arrive by Monday 19th December 2011 and quoting planning reference C/7/2011/7020 to:
Norfolk County Council, Environment, Transport and Development County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich, NR1 2DH.
Quick Links
- Overview - Current Situation, December 2011.
- Letter from StoPit Chairman.
- External Web links to Planning documents and other info.
- Who to write to.
- How to write - Example Letter 1.
- How to write - Example Letter 2.
- How to write - Some statements you could use.
- FYI - The planning process explained.
Overview - Current Situation, December 2011.
Take a good look at the Chairmans letter below as well as the tips on letter writing to get a clearer picture of where we stand today. However, in summary:
Earsham Gravel have submitted a planning application to work the same land as originally proposed in the Council Strategy for Gravel and Waste.
They have made a few amendments (moved the concrete batching further away from St. Mary's Church, put extra trees in to screen the works etc.).
The Council Strategy deemed this site as "unacceptable", yet this application has gone forward to the Council planning committee.
IT IS NOT GUARANTEED THAT THIS WILL BE OPPOSED BY THE PLANNERS! It is a separate application, though common sense expects a similar process and outcome, this may not be the case.
In order to ensure the process is followed in an acceptable way, anyone opposing the planning application must disagree IN WRITING direct to the planning committee refering to our reference C/7/2011/7020.
DO NOT write elsewhere or contact them directly, any influences deemed as intimidating will not help.
Our representatives from the local and district councils, as well as our parish committee, are fully behind opposing this plan with us. They would love to be informed too, so send copies to them as well, it all helps. You are also able to comment online, have a look at the links below.
NOW is the time for action! Write today!
Letter from StoPit Chairman.
Below is the letter sent to Members on 22/11/2011
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Dear StoPit Member, Earsham Gravel have, submitted a planning application for gravel extraction and concrete making at Haddiscoe. The application was made in October 2011 and Norfolk County Council (NCC) are consulting all interested parties before presenting this application to the NCC planning committee. This consultation period could take up to 16 weeks. But it is likely to go to the planning committee for a decision in early 2012. The plan submitted is, in all essentials, the same one we successfully got listed as a “not acceptable” site in the Norfolk Minerals and Waste Local development framework which has now been adopted as County Council policy and was shown in Earsham Gravel’s exhibition in the village hall last year. We will be opposing it vigorously, but many voices are more powerful than one. We have secured the continued support of, our District Councillor, William Kemp, and our County Councillor, Tony Tomkinson. Their contact details are on this letter and it is important that they get as many letters or emails as possible.
Parish Council meetings are open to the public and although it is unlikely that you will be invited to speak it would be important to be there. If you want more details of the application, they are on the County Council website at http://eplanning.norfolk.gov.uk/PlanAppDisp.aspx?AppNo=C/7/2011/7020. Stopit committee members have copies of it on disc, or contact Robert Webb at Norfolk County Council. Mr. Webb is the case officer for this application. His direct dial number is 01603 228959 and the case reference is C/7/2011/7020. So make your comments to:
We will keep you informed of developments and especially of the date of the NCC planning committee meeting, which we hope as many as possible can attend.
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External Web links to Planning documents and other info.
Here are some links that take to places on the web which may help you.
- The Norfolk Planning Page for application C/7/2011/7020
- The NCC Gravel Strategy document page - Haddiscoe MIN25
- Cllr Tony Tomkinson's Weblog.
Who to write to.
These are the people you should contact quoting planning reference C/7/2011/7020. Write in this order of preference, though all would like letter!
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Robert Webb, |
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Tony Tomkinson, |
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William Kemp, |
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Haddiscoe Parish Council, |
How to write - Example Letter 1.
You can use this example letter as a basis of you own letter.
Highlight it in your browser and copy it (Control+C or right click and Copy), then paste it into a word processing application (such as Microsoft Word).
Remember to replace the italics with your own details!
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your house number / name here Mr. R. Webb, Case Officer Todays date here Reference: Planning application C/7/2011/7020 Dear Mr Webb, I object to the proposal to extract, process, bag and sell sand and gravel with concrete batching on Manor Farm land in Haddiscoe by Earsham Gravels Ltd. This pit is unnecessary and outside the county strategy plan for waste and minerals. It is sited too near Haddiscoe village and will spoil residents’ quiet enjoyment of the countryside.
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How to write - Example Letter 2.
You can use this example letter as a basis of you own letter.
Highlight it in your browser and copy it (Control+C or right click and Copy), then paste it into a word processing application (such as Microsoft Word).
Remember to replace the italics with your own details!
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your house number / name here Mr. R. Webb, Case Officer Todays date here Reference: Planning application C/7/2011/7020 Dear Mr Webb, I object to the proposal to extract, process, bag and sell sand and gravel with concrete batching on Manor Farm land in Haddiscoe by Earsham Gravels Ltd for the following reasons:
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How to write - Some statements you could use.
If you have time to look at the proposal and construct your own argument that would be very useful. If not, you may find these notes helpful in writing your objection.
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The proposal is essentially the same one that is deemed “not acceptable” in the Norfolk Minerals and Waste strategy document. It is on the same sites, it is for the same period of time (20 years) and for the same activity, gravel and sand extraction and concrete making. |
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There is no need for the site either locally or county wide. The strategy plan has identified where in Norfolk sand and gravel could be extracted to meet requirements until 2026. Locally, the extensions to the pits at Norton Subcourse and Heckingham will provide 2.000.000 tons and these are “acceptable sites” and away from nuisance to most residents. Any concrete made in Haddiscoe would have to be transported to the expected building expansions e.g. Gt. Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Norwich far better to make the concrete near where it is needed. |
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The “do nothing” option would see these sites remain as arable farm land producing crops in a time of rising food prices in an uncertain world for a country lacking “food security”. |
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The sites are too close to the village, despite planned measures to hide the activities; it is inevitable that there will be an increase in noise, dust and other particulates. The site will work from 7.00am until 5.00pm and on Saturday morning. The site will be flood lit and again although measures will apparently be taken to reduce this nuisance, all such measures are subject to human error. |
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The sites place this activity at the meeting point of the Yare and Waveney valleys right on the edge of the Broads authority, a national park. Haddiscoe and Thorpe churches command the valley view, from their high points. The churches settings will be demeaned by placing gravel washing and concrete mixing machinery in a large hole in the ground between them however high the earth ramparts or dense the tree screen. |
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The proposal envisages two thirds of the out put going down the A143 across the dam to Gt. Yarmouth and one third using A143 through Haddiscoe bends towards Beccles, this road has a certain notoriety in the county and the county council already recognises the need once again to remodel the junction of the B1136 and the A143 at the top of Church Hill. However there would be no control over customers’ lorries using the B1136 towards Hales with its difficult junction at the A146 and in any case there can be no certainty where the demand for the product will be. |
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The proposal suggests there will be four jobs created plus some part time work, but does not explain what will happen to the current work force as the Earsham site is closed. |
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After 21years we get a landscaped hole in the ground with water at the bottom of it. It is unlikely the villagers will be able to “enjoy” this new amenity as the land will be returned to its owners, another fenced off fishing lake similar to the one behind Rectory Road and Wiggs Lane. |
FYI - The planning process explained.
What actually happens when a planning application is made and discussed? Well...
- Administration: Application received, checked and registered.
- Publicity: The proposal is notified to neighbours, the Parish / Town Council and other interested parties over a 3 week period. A site visit may be made.
- Consideration: The planning officer considers responses from consultees, neighbours and other bodies.
- Hearing:
- The planning committee discuss with the planning officers reviewing the application, no defined timescale.
- The planning committee discuss with the proposer (Earsham Gravel), no defined timescale.
- A total of 5 minutes is allocated PER representative councillor (District and County) to speak (to be checked, it may be 5 minutes total).
- A total of 5 minutes in total is allocated for ALL the public representatives to speak (Parish Committee, StoPit Committee, Others).
- The decision: A report is made followed by the decision by the planning committee or head of development management (under delegated powers).
- Post-decision actions: Planning permission is Refused or Granted
