I learned, at the recent Public Consultation, that the individual Suitability Assessments for each proposed entry have largely been conducted as a desktop exercise with no site visits for GNLP 0391A & B (Hall Road & Burgate Lane proposals) and I am alarmed that the Assessments and [more importantly] Conclusions can be put forward, to those who will approve them for inclusion to The GNLP, without a site visit

1 Drainage
The "Suitability Assessment" for GNLP 0391A concludes it should be "considered suitable for the land availability assessment". However, it also states "there are small areas within the site at risk of surface water flooding". This is a gross misunderstanding of the local issues. A natural spring rises in an adjacent plot and the resultant water table is only inches below the surface. I have lived in the area for over 30 years and this field regularly (i.e. more than once a year) floods over almost 50% of its area and stays in that condition for many weeks/months and any development on this land would only exacerbate this problem and the effects of resultant water run off.

Surface drainage from the GNLP 0391A & B proposals runs off through the ditch drainage systems running along boundaries and across several properties and normally amounts to a water depth of 2 inches. However after periods of heavy or prolonged rain that ditch floods up from a trickle to a torrent 3 feet deep. This water flow eventually discharges to a ditch adjacent to Yelverton Road. As a result this road regularly floods, making it impassable for a week or more at a time. This situation has been reported to NCC [Ref: ENQ-0309485] over 12 months ago. Equally the water ends up in the ditch drainage system serving Gull Lane [already an accepted flood risk area] and results in water drainage issues in that vicinity i.e. increases the flood risk in an adjacent Parish. These issues would seem to fall under the National Planning Policy Framework [NRRF] Para 94 and 103 which expressly suggests flood risk should not be increased elsewhere.

2 Environment
The NPPF document issued by The Department for Communities & Local Government makes much about the need to preserve the rural aspects, aesthetic attributes and local feel of village life but developments on these two plots (with the 140 home density proposal being submitted) would destroy the existing soft edge to the rural nature of the village and create a hard edge "town density" development totally out of keeping with the existing village environment. These two submissions fail to improve the character and quality of the area and the way it functions and does not address the relevance to existing Parishioners. Both of these are prime stipulations in the NPPF [Paras 61 and 64].

Whilst the GNLP Settlement Summary Document says "the sites are within walking distance of two primary schools and bus services" it glosses over the fact the roads in the area are largely single track twisty country lanes with passing places, with absolutely no street lighting or footpaths and that walking to one of the primary schools is totally inappropriate and unsafe.

Both of these sites separately exit onto narrow lanes and would significantly increase the traffic flow to already overloaded tight, poorly sighted junctions.

I understand the GNLP 0391B site could be Grade 3A agricultural land [it has certainly appeared to produce regular good crops over the years] and as such under NPPF Para 112 it should be considered a very low priority for development.

Both sites and the surrounding areas benefit from a very diverse and thriving wildlife including Muntjac, Roe and Fallow deer, Barn and Tawny owls, Bats and Buzzards along with frogs and a variety of Newts which are all partially or wholly sustained by the existing nature of the two sites with the mix of ground conditions, 3 ponds, arable land and hedgerows. We need to celebrate and enhance these aspects as recognized by the statements in The NPPF Para 109 and any development would be contrary this.

The NPPF recognises [Para 132] that great weight should be given to considering the impact on heritage assets and their conservation, in particular Grade 1 and 2 listed buildings and that any harm to these should be wholly exceptional. There is a Grade 1 round tower church within tens of meters of the GNLP 0391A Hall Road site with its graveyard, containing many historically significant plots, visited by a very large number of people each year, closer still. Any development on the Hall Road site, at the density being proposed, would undoubtedly detract from the tranquil nature and aesthetics associated with this historic building and surrounding site.