GNLP0191R
Infractructure
There are few existing local services - no school, no shop, no post office, no doctors surgery. All of these facilities are a 2 mile car journey away down narrow country lanes to Mulbarton where they are all are overstretched by the continuing development there. The limited bus service runs only during the day accessible from stops on either side of the A140. Waiting on either side is unpleasant. Crossing from the far side is a very scary experience, even in daylight hours.
There are around 160 houses in Swainsthorpe. An additional 20 is far too many for an "other village" designated for limited in-fill only as termed in the JCS and too many to absorb into a tiny local community.
The village does not have continuous pavements and the street lighting is extremely poor.
Access
Access is onto a 'C' road just a hundred yards from a level crossing, which is closed at least 4 times an hour. The only access and egress to this split site is by an agricultural single vehicle width track which joins unclassified Church Road. This is not a single site but two fields bisected by a farm track. Access would be also across common land, currently with a mini village gree and bench in the centre.
A recent speedwatch check showed many drivers speeding at 50mph through the village.
The exit is onto Church Road, a narrow road already used as a "rat run" to Mulbarton and Swardeston. This use will increase if the already congested A140 becomes even busier. Additional housing will add further to the existing problem.
Exit from Swainsthorpe village is onto the A140 one of the most heavily congested roads in the county. Access north towards Norwich or southwards is often extremely difficult entailing a long frustrating wait at the end of Church Road. The return journey requires cars to be isolated in the filter lane waiting to turn in and faced with juggernauts thundering towards the filter. It is likely that new houses would bring one or two cars each to the visit all adding to the pollution and congestion already present.
Environment
This site would be a precedent for similar developments changing the rural character of the village forever. The existing agricultural land is habitat for a wide variety of mammals, insects and birds and o build on this site would destroy acres of our farm land on the edge of the village forever. Additionally this agricultural land is between High Speed rail line and high voltage power lines and is highly unsuitable for residential development. There is some evidence that living near overhead power lines is detrimental to childhood development.
Summary
* lack of existing social infrastructure and facilities
* agricultural land between a high-speed rail line and high-voltage power lines is highly unsuitable for residential development.
* site is split by a farmtrack with access across common land
* addition to pollution and congestion on A140
* Exit onto Church Road is narrow with blind bends and used as a cut through by frustrated drivers.
* 20 houses are far too many for an "other village" designated for limited in-fill only in the JCS
* loss of agricultural land, and wildlife habitat