The Parish Council is unanimously opposed to the proposed new development. At a well-attended public meeting, called by the Council on February 19th 2018 in Colton Village Hall, there was no support for the proposed development. The residents of Marlingford and Colton Parish value their environment as it is. This was clearly established in the Parish Plan for Marlingford and Colton in 2006 (available at marlingfordandcoltonpc@norfolkparishes.gov.uk). As indicated in the Parish Plan, they value the quiet, friendly and rural nature of where they live, with a very strong appreciation of the local landscape and wildlife. Nothing has happened since then, including various public and parish council meetings, to suggest that those views have changed.

The Council's objections are:

Colton is classified as an Other Village with a defined development boundary: the proposed site is outside that boundary. The proposal is for residential development, holiday accommodation and/or staff accommodation related to Barnham Broom Golf and Country Club.

Large parts of the site are located within the designated river valley, the Yare Rural River Valley, which narrows in this area with correspondingly steeper sides; the remainder of the site is on high ground immediately overlooking the river valley. The whole area is particularly visually attractive, with wide views over the countryside, correspondingly the proposed development would be visible from a very wide area. Although remote from Colton it would affect residents because Church Lane and a nearby public-right-of-way are well-used by walkers; the right-of-way runs along the southern edge of the proposed development, partly beside it, and partly just inside its edge. The river valley is protected from development under the South Norfolk Local Plan; such protection is reiterated in the Consultation documents.

Whatever the proposed use, the site would be separated from any existing or proposed settlement, and therefore have significant constraints.

If used for residential development, there would be limited access to existing services. There would be no accessible primary school, as defined in the Growth Options document: a school within two miles from the centre of the settlement and accessible the whole way from the outskirts of the settlement via a pavement. Further, primary schools in adjacent villages are likely to have capacity constraints. The sewerage network would need extension and there may be capacity constraints. The water supply would need upgrading, and possibly also the electrical supply. Several areas are subject to flooding. The local road network is unsuitable: Church Lane, Colton, which runs beside and through the proposed site, is single-track with few passing places; Bickerston Hill, in particular, is quite steep with a blind bend, and very steep sides to the carriageway, with no passing place.

If used for holiday accommodation and/or staff accommodation related to Barnham Broom Golf and Country Club, the constraints listed in the paragraph above, except those in relation to primary schools, would apply.