Like most residents of Brundall I very much hope that the field East of Brundall Memorial Hall can be designated permanently as public open space. This would preserve an area which has been important to the life of the village since its use as a Golf Course in the early 2oth century. Brundall is a linear village with no natural centre, but this land can easily be accessed on foot from all sides of the village and adjoins the village Memorial Hall and children's playground, so it is an important walking and meeting place for village people. There is no comparable area in the village except the country park,which lies well outside the village boundary and can only be reached by car or by a long walk or run. The proposed sports pitch at the north end of the village, if it materialises, will also be too far out for most people to walk to easily, and will only serve those who want to play formal sport, not those who want informal access to green space.
Planning permission has been given in the last few years for a number of housing developments round the periphery of Brundall, and for one inside the village which replaced a much loved cricket ground. Many residents feel that development is closing in on the village and destroying its previous character. They are hurt, too, that the Neighbourhood Plan to which much careful thought was given, appears to have been disregarded when planning decisions are made.
Leaving aside the very considerable problems of access, traffic and overburdening of services which would occur if housing were built on this site, our chief reason for wanting to preserve it is its unique character. The field forms one side of a river valley. Its slope down is matched by the rise of the golf course on the other side. The area adjoining the stream and the stream itself have good potential for improvement as a wildlife area, and it adjoins at its western end (apart from the width of the road between) Cremers Meadow, a County Wildlife site, so providing an important wildlife corridor to the approach to the marshes and River Yare beyond. The valley is overlooked by the historically and visually important medieval tower of Blofield church, forming an outstanding view which is much prized both by Brundall and Blofield residents and people in the surrounding villages. It would be a tragedy if this were destroyed.
If the land can be permanently designated as recreational we hope that its value would drop, and many people in Brundall are determined to work to raise funds to acquire and maintain it for the use of the village.We realise this will be a mammoth task but we are passionate about it and prepared to do what it takes.