I refer to your Greater Norwich Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation and the plan I was given recently indicating where new building may take place locally. I would like to raise a number of issues which I believe are very relevant to the proposed developments indicated by the codes GNLP2118 and GNLP2005.
A general point, which is relevant to both proposed developments, is that both are situated in a rural area primarily serviced by country lanes which are essentially unsuited to much of the traffic they presently carry. Sneath Road and the roads that feed into it have no footpaths or street lighting and many are generally not wider than approximately 4-5 metres wide. During the day and evening they carry mixed traffic which comprises largely trucks vans and cars. All year round, but particulary in the summer months, large tractors pulling wide/heavy loads of farm crops regularly use the lanes. Dog walkers and others are frequently put at considerable risk of harm. Aditional housing as shown as GNLP21 l 8 could only substantially add to the use of the road
Your plan does not indicate the nature of housing you envisage. What are the needs that you see the Authority having to meet and how does the building of houses in a country setting match with these requirements? For the eleven years I have lived in the area, the field alongside Sneath Road has produced a series of healthy crops and that behind the houses to the north of the road has frequently carried animals. Is the need for local housing so great that we can justify the loss of good agricultural land rather than reuse reclaimed building land as is apparently available in Aslacton village.
Related to the above paragraph is the question of the age-range of the occupants of any new houses. I feel that the area around Sneath Road is predominantly occupied by older people. Any influx of young adults would bring with it an increase in the birth-rate and demand for more school places. One has to ask whether the present school provision in the village is adequate or appropriate should more pupils require access. Given the present road system I would not like to see any child walking from Sneath Road to Aslacton village with the distance and all the dangers this would involve.
Neither Aslacton or Great Moulton has any shop, post-office or banking provision. Are any or all of these envisaged in the proposed development or will even more cars have to travel to Norwich, Diss, or other small town to access these services with the related consequence of more pollution in the environment? The present bus service to Norwich or Diss is pretty minimal. Do we expect to see an improved 'bus service in the area alongside any building development?