I am writing in regard to the proposed developments here in Wortwell as outlined in GNLP 2121.
My wife and I have lived in the village for just about 35 years in two properties in the village, the present farm being the base of my business for twenty years. Compared to other villages in the area Wortwell, for some reason has no particular community spirit. Whether it is because we are close to Harleston I don't know, but we have no school or post office/shop. We do have a pub still, which is reasonably well supported, and we do have a large community centre, but its viability at the moment is unsure, due to lack of support, which is a great shame and disappointment to those who really do try hard to keep it going with events and functions.
For this reason, I am very keen that we do have some future development in the village. I have always been critical of SNDC for not supporting more small developments in the past. I see in Mid Suffolk, for instance small cul-de sacs with six or eight traditionally built houses built round the access road. Their design allows residents to inter-act with one-another as well as participating with the wider village. We do need this type of development in Wortwell. It brings in, hopefully, younger families, with children, and maybe with a younger outlook on village life.
So yes, I do approve of smaller developments, and the two sites immediately around the pub
(Wortwell Bell) would, if properly executed amount to some quite desirable development, but only if sympathetically designed.
The greatest asset Wortwell offers is its location and landscape. Situated on the northern bank of the Waveney valley the landscape is some of the finest in the whole of Norfolk, with wide vistas 360 degrees from anywhere in the parish. The view of the Waveney valley both up-stream and down­stream is a view to behold, any time of the year.
This brings me to the submission for a large development 2121 on 13. 75 Ha, right on the brow of the Waveney Valley.
It doesn't tick any boxes for any one. The development would totally destroy the natural landscape and would be seen for tens of miles from all quarters. Harleston to Homersfield, Starston to Fressingfield in Suffolk. The whole of the upper Waveney would be affected.

Taking that aside, the strain on our local services would be intolerable. For some years now, Harleston and district residents have suffered with a very poor GP practice. For various reasons, the Practice seems unable to recruit more Doctors and support staff, and because of this they offer a very poor service with ill or elderly people having to be interrogated by the front desk before they even get to a Doctor, and even then, it may be a week or so before they get a consultation.
The same goes for Dentists, ambulance, police, schools and all the other services that only a few years ago it would be normal to have a near instant service.
So, as planners, I suggest that you plan. Plan properly both new developments and the necessary infrastructure to support the influx of fresh new people. As this will not practically be possible, a large development like this proposed one should be thrown out in favour of a number of smaller sites.
For Wortwell, this development is not needed, not right, and in totally the wrong place.