As residents living close to the proposed site, we would agree with the HELAA capacity assessment in that this proposed site is unsuitable for development.

The road access to the site, either from the Fakenham Road in Lenwade, or Hall Road in Alderford is unsuitable for any increase in volume of traffic. The assessment references access from Hall Road -in several places, this road is suitable for a single vehicle only, with several blind bends and very limited passing spaces. Proximity of existing properties to the road means improving the road would not be possible.

Access via Fakenham Road in Lenwade is also not suitable. There is a single track bridge which is already under constant strain from the volume of HGVs servicing the Bernard Matthews site. The crossroads/junction at Fakenham Road is also very busy and hazardous - with several accidents occurring in recent times.

The site borders on the villages of Great Witchingham and Alderford. There are no footpaths, nor is there any access to any public transportation services within easy reach. The Reepham Road end of the village is served by one bus service per day in one direction. Access to Fakenham Road bus routes would be approx 1 mile from the site and inaccessible via foot.

The lack of a final section to the NDR would potentially lead to further rat-running through villages such as Weston Longville and Hockering.

Access to mains utilities requires investigation. Mains water is not widely available in the village, there is no mains sewerage facilities and the area is not served by a natural gas connection.

The residents of Alderford are already in regular contact with Environmental Services and Bernard Matthews over the noise and cooking smells emitting from the plant. Proximity of the proposed site to the plant would inflict these conditions onto any residents - to an even greater extent to that experienced by current residents.

The village itself consists a small number of period properties, several of which are Listed and are assumed to date back to being part of the original Gt Witchingham estate. Any new development would be a blight on the existing landscape and is unlikely to be complimentary to the historic nature of the existing residential dwellings.

It can be assumed that this proposal is being presented in the short term interests of Bernard Matthews owners' balance sheet rather than the permanent blot on the landscape the resulting scheme would generate.

In summary, the proposed site is in a rural area, unfit for volume residential development with no access to public transport and served by roads that are already unfit for purpose.