GNLP0603R

The applicant states 'The proposals will support the local economy through the increased use of existing local services and provide new homes to contribute to the social sustainability of Swainsthorpe '
This statement is untrue. 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.
Swainsthorpe does not need 25 new houses to contribute to social sustainability. The community is already busy and lively with a thriving social programme. There are around 160 houses in Swainsthorpe. An additional 25 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
The proposed access via Church View onto Church Road is on a blind bend. I cross this road regularly dog walking and have almost been knocked over many times. The speed restriction is 30mph which is far too high. A recent speedwatch check showed many drivers speeding at 50mph through the village.
Church View faces the church which has no car park so it is usual to find vehicles parked on the road - or partly on the pavement - opposite Church View. The school bus waits and picks up outside the church, opposite Church View. The village green with its children's play area is opposite Church View. .These all exacerbate the dangerous exit.
Church Road is 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.
The A140 is a heavily congested road. Access towards Norwich or southwards is often extremely difficult entailing a long frustrating wait either at the end of Church Road or 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
There is a very well used public footpath starting at Church View. This will be lost. Swainsthorpe is very poorly supplied with footpaths and bridlepaths - sadly, as a keen walker, it the worst village I have lived in.
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.
Summary
* highly dangerous access onto Church Road on blind bend opposite children's playground, school bus pickup, parking for church community centre and village notice board
* irretrievable loss of agricultural land, wildlife habitat and footpaths'
* 25 dwellings is far too many for an "other village" designated for limited in-fill only in the JCS
* application states 'increased use of existing local services' but there is a lack of existing social infrastructure and facilities
* additional dwellings increasing pollution and congestion on A140
* out of character with existing village