I am writing to object strongly to the Planning Application by Ben Burgess Ltd which attempts to change a residential rural village into an industrial site. Swainsthorpe is a small historical settlement which currently houses approximately 350 inhabitants in around 160 properties.
There are existing industrial sites in Norwich and South Norfolk with capacity for Ben Burgess. I feel it unacceptable to destroy the countryside when other options are readily available.
My objections are:
* Access
Swainsthorpe is located on the A140 a major road which carries heavy traffic at all times and, at certain times of day, is virtually at a standstill because of the volume of traffic. Entrance and exit from an industrial site would add significantly to this volume as well as being extremely dangerous, on a bend with limited vision, offering employees and visitors severely restricted access on one of the busiest and most congested roads in the county.
Access from Church Road, Swainsthorpe already requires a frustratingly long wait. Any development will bring the A140 to a more frequent standstill. This will exacerbate pollution from diesel and petrol fumes. There are no plans to dual the A140. It is already a dangerously congested road. The combined effect of this development plus the planned developments in Mulbarton, Long Stratton and other areas adjoining the A140 will put further pressure on a road already at standstill during rush hour periods..
Local traffic uses Church Road through Swainsthorpe village to cut through from the A140 to Swardeston and Mulbarton on extremely narrow country lanes. These roads are officially accessible only to lightweight or delivery vehicles but of course are used by forbidden vehicles. This throughcut practice will increase with the likelihood of accidents on blind bends as frustrated drivers attempt to avoid the chaos on the A140.
* Pollution
Additional to the air pollution caused by increased traffic (see above) the site has no services for drainage of sewage, industrial waste water and oils, and no electricity. The construction will require work to install these. Any development will cause ongoing excessive noise from the constant drone of tractors and other heavy machinery moving around the site exacerbated by the testing of engines. This, and the light pollution from 24/7 security lights, will have a major impact on the locality.
* Habitat
The land proposed is currently prime agricultural land, farmed for many years and habitat for large and small mammals, birds and insects. Its destruction would cause a significant loss of wildlife in an area on the edge of a large city.
* Amenity
Swainsthorpe is already badly served by public footpaths and bridleways. The existing footpath and permissive path around the fields identified in the Planning Application are very well walked - because they are the only paths. There are no other walks accessible on foot from the village. These paths will disappear under concrete.

If approved this proposal will be disastrous for the environment, residents and anyone attempting to travel between Norwich, Diss and southwards. The resulting pollution, loss of habitat, congestion, increased accidents and social deprivation are incalculable.
Ben Burgess should be encouraged to find a more appropriate, less damaging location where the infrastructure and road network can support the business better. It seems ironic that a firm selling agricultural machinery should wish to destroy prime agricultural land.