GNLP0421

Acle Parish Council: this proposal for 570 dwellings is totally unacceptable for a small village. A development of this size would unbalance the village and erode the feeling of space and countryside between Acle and Beighton. The increase in traffic would cause chaos in the village centre as there is no access to the A47 eastbound.

Jolly's Lane is a narrow lane with no footpaths, which is used as a recreational walking and cycling route by pedestrians from Acle and Beighton, especially by those on The Hill, Damgate Lane, and The Beighton estate near the A47. For people living in these areas this is the only quiet and safe walking and cycling route linking the Reedham Road with Beighton Road (other than going into the village and out again via the station/A47 slip road, which only has pedestrian access on one side). This route then connects to Church Lane, Sandy Lane, and a number of bridlepaths, footpaths and quiet roads which link to Moulton, Freethorpe,Lingwood, Brundall and Strumpshaw. This would be ruined by a development of this size on Jolly's Lane.

A development of 507 properties would increase the population of Acle by nearly 35% (assuming 2 people per property). Acle does not have the infrastructure to cope e.g. the Doctor's Surgery already struggles with capacity. I doubt the sewerage would cope. It would also totally change the nature of the village, especially to the South of Acle, which is currently relatively isolated with a rural feel and mainly old properties. Jolly's Lane is outside the sites for development in Acle's Village Plan.

Jolly's Lane is split from the main village by the A47 village and for most people would be too far for visiting the village by foot (and there is no footpath to the village) so most people would see a car as vital for everyday use. This would dramatically increase traffic into the village, either by going down Beighton Road North and crossing the A47 slip road, or by going to the Reedham Road where there is a blind bend and a narrowish road with restricted height under the A47 bridge.

The turning on to the Reedham Road from Jolly's Lane is on a bend and access is not easy here, also at this point cars tend to speed towards the village along the Reedham Road.

There is a lot of wildlife in the hedgerows which run along most of Jolly's lane, and presumably along the hedges which back onto the railway. Buzzard's nest at the Beighton Road end of Jolly's Lane.

Whilst I appreciate the need for more housing, particularly that which will enable local people to stay in the area, the size of this development and that at Beighton Road are just too large. These two sites would, alone, nearly double the size of the village and our concerns are the impact these would have on services such as education, medical, roads etc. Where for instance would access roads out of the village be sited? We live on Reedham Road which already has a constant stream of traffic passing in and out of the village, many above the speed limit and the thought of more entering from Jollys Lane isVERY worrying. The pressure on our medical facilities and schools is also a concern.