We write to comment on several proposals for development infringing current "green" land on both sides of the Yare Valley between the A11 and the University of East Anglia. The sites which our comments address are:
GNLP 0145 A and B, GNLP 00133 E and F, GNLP 0244 and GNLP 0461.
Since similar considerations apply to all these sites, we shall consider them together.
Our interest comes from almost daily use of this area for nearly fifty years for walking or cycling to work at the Colney Lane research institutes and UEA, and for daily walks in the river valley and adjacent woodlands for recreation and for studying wildlife.
The Yare Valley Green Infrastructure Corridor identified in local plans has been a vital factor in enriching the lives of large numbers of citizens of Norwich, Cringleford and adjacent villages for many years, and we have a duty to safeguard this asset for future generations. The green corridor is much used by walkers, and indeed some paths are overused. Rather than reduce the area available, efforts should instead be concentrated on enlarging it. The overall corridor is more than the sum of the individual parts and reduction of the area in one part could adversely affect the integrity and function of the whole. The area boasts many species of plants and animals which are at risk. It is well known that habitat fragmentation is a major cause of loss of biodiversity, and can only be ameliorated by having wildlife corridors of adequate width. We believe that these proposals which would involve substantial losses of several classes of habitat, will reduce the biological corridor below the critical level.
We are also concerned at the additional traffic generated by the proposals. With expected development to the west of Colney Lane, the proposals GNLP 0145 and GNLP 0244 will place additional pressure on the main traffic artery to the hospital. Moreover the road access to site GNLP 0461 is totally inadequate to support traffic generated by additional housing. Also it should be noted that this site is low-lying within the flood plain and becomes very wet each winter.
In view of these factors, we urge that the new GNLP will strike out these specific proposals.