Greater Norwich Local Plan Gypsy and Traveller Sites Focused Consultation
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Greater Norwich Local Plan Gypsy and Traveller Sites Focused Consultation
Policy GNLP5014
Representation ID: 25226
Received: 20/03/2023
Respondent: National Farmers Union
The National Farmers Union represents farmers and landowners in England and Wales and writes to support the objections of its members in the proximity of this site who have contacted us to highlight their concerns regarding the site.
As regards this site and others sites that make up the rest of the consultation the NFU notes that this site dwarfs all the others in terms of scale and the number of pitches. We are concerned that such a a large site and the number of people living there at any one time is too large for local services to be able to accomodate.
The NFU feel that any site - including those existing sites that this consultations suggests could be expanded - should be limited to single figure numbers of pitches and ideally be no more than six pitches.
However in relation to this site specifically the NFU believes it should not be taken forward at all. From a human health point of view it is inapropriate to proactively place people - especially children - in such close proximity to a major road. Air pollution risks will be very high even if there is screening included in the scheme.
The surrounding of the site by fast moving traffic on so many sides represents a major collision hazard putting both residents and drivers at risk. The number of heavy goods vehicles such as sugar beet lorries which will use the junction increases these risks.
From an an agricultural and environmental point of view it is inappropriate to use grade 1 agricultural land. The building of the road will inevitably take some land out of production and it may become impractical to farm the piece of land proposed for the site. However that land should be given over to environmental use - something the existing farm tenant could oversee and benefit from financially via ELMS funding, mitigating the business losses from the cessation of agricultural production.
The location of the site is remote from existing infrastructure such as sewerage and there are is no footpath network to make it safe for residents to leave the site other than by car.
The National Farmers Union represents farmers and landowners in England and Wales and writes to support the objections of its members in the proximity of this site who have contacted us to highlight their concerns regarding the site.
As regards this site and others sites that make up the rest of the consultation the NFU notes that this site dwarfs all the others in terms of scale and the number of pitches. We are concerned that such a a large site and the number of people living there at any one time is too large for local services to be able to accomodate.
The NFU feel that any site - including those existing sites that this consultations suggests could be expanded - should be limited to single figure numbers of pitches and ideally be no more than six pitches.
However in relation to this site specifically the NFU believes it should not be taken forward at all. From a human health point of view it is inapropriate to proactively place people - especially children - in such close proximity to a major road. Air pollution risks will be very high even if there is screening included in the scheme.
The surrounding of the site by fast moving traffic on so many sides represents a major collision hazard putting both residents and drivers at risk. The number of heavy goods vehicles such as sugar beet lorries which will use the junction increases these risks.
From an an agricultural and environmental point of view it is inappropriate to use grade 1 agricultural land. The building of the road will inevitably take some land out of production and it may become impractical to farm the piece of land proposed for the site. However that land should be given over to environmental use - something the existing farm tenant could oversee and benefit from financially via ELMS funding, mitigating the business losses from the cessation of agricultural production.
The location of the site is remote from existing infrastructure such as sewerage and there are is no footpath network to make it safe for residents to leave the site other than by car.
