I have previously submitted this site on behalf of Hellesdon Parish Council as I was the Chairman at that time. This proposal is to retain the site as formal and I formal recreation land for the parish of Hellesdon.
I object Strongly to the proposal from Ms Alcock for a site of part recreation and up to 50 houses.
Hellesdon as a parish has a gross shortfall of recreational land. The planning application on the Hellesdon Golf Club site, and consequent negotiations with Persimmons agent, who happened to be Ms Alcock too, has left us with an underprovision of formal recreational land, a definite of approx 2 hectares.
The Jarrolds site is just over 2 hectares, and to acquire this would only install that required by formula and balance the loss created on the Persimmon site.
Hellesdon will experience in the next ten years a housing growth in excess of 25%. 1000 homes, 300 more on the Hellesdon Hospital site. Hellesdon will be Completely covered by houses, and an under provision of green open space and recreational land. This is note acceptable and Councillors and the parish community are clearly concerned and disturbed by th fact that this piece of open space, although privately owned, is the LAST piece of open land available to acquire, purchase on behalf of the residents of Hellesdon. Developers can give the parish as much money as they need under planning law, but it is of very little I use if there is no land to purchase!
To acquire the site the parish council see as ideal to raise the land quote per head of Hellesdon population. The retention of the tennis courts, the full size completion bowling green and associated facilities will off the chance of a purpose developed sport amenity for the parish and free up some land on the Community Centre site, which will allow future enlargement and refurbishment of a well used and supported community centre. The parish council have contacted the owner of this site to ascertain whether a purchase could be discussed. However the owner, has not communicated any further to the pc, following corespondence earlier this year. Contact has been made with Sport England and they have visited the site from residents rear gardens that abut the site. Hellesdon has many enquiries for football pitches, and although The Nest now provides some of this requirement, I am being told that many small organisations are finding the fees for hire much higher than the pc already charge, The current bowling green at the community centre is smaller and not of Co oetetion length.
Turning to housing again, Hellesdon quite clearly has taken it fare shore of housing growth that is planned, and amenities do not compliment this growth. There are serious concerns animus additional traffic congestion on the Cromer Road and Fifers Lane, which at most times of the day remain at a maximum capacity. Services and amenities are becoming more and more stretche in Hellesdon, and if any proposed developments are allowed at the top of the Reepham Road, although in the parish of Horsford, I envisage that those residents will use the services in Hellesdon rather than drive to Horsford village some two miles away, I am concerned that Hellesdon at present cannot support and further housing, but is in desperate need of more amenity land. There is a demonstrable need for more children's play areas on this side of the parish. The Lovell Development in Eversley Road did not provide a children's play area, so the installation of one would be well supported.