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: 25005
Received: 09/03/2023
Respondent: Strumpshaw Parish Council
Strumpshaw Parish Council write to object to the above proposal of a new Gypsy and Traveller site in North Burlingham for the following reasons:
1. Location & proximity to the A47 – The proposed dwelling is extremely close to the A47, a major trunk road. This is a completely unsuitable location for families to live and to be housed in caravans, which offer absolutely no protection should a vehicle come off the road in an accident. There is an increased risk of accidents near junctions and this would be a busy junction with high speeds.
2. Overcrowding – The site is proposed to have 15 double pitches, meaning 30 homes. As with other similar existing sites, it is common for the travelling gypsy community to overfill sites. This community is known to often have large family units, the local areas will be impacted by supporting potentially an additional 100-150 or more people from the overfilling of the site.
No specific mention, let alone proposed commitment, has been made of the outstanding need to identify provisions and resources to enable the local communities in the catchment area to support such an influx of people. For example, school and medical resources and facilities would need to be professionally reviewed and adequately funded with additional resources.
3. Visual Impairment – The proposal would be incredibly difficult to conceal and would be clearly visible from both the flyover and the A47. This would be unsightly and ruin the existing rural landscape and would result in the devaluation of existing residents property.
4. Road Safety & Hazards to Children & Pets – The road presents a serious hazard to children who often run freely around sites like this. All it takes is for one of these children to roam onto the A47 from the site and cause a serious road traffic accident. This would not only harm or kill the child but possibly also multiple other road users. It is also proposed to increase the speed to a 70 mph limit on this new section of road and the risk of death in such an incident would be very high.
The travelling gypsy community also typically have a lot of dogs, many of which are left to roam around their sites too. There is a huge risk of one or more of these dogs making their way on the A47 and also causing potentially fatal road traffic accidents.
5. Pollution and Waste – The site has no connection to existing sewage infrastructure. This means it is likely that extensive work to install a new sewage treatment system to connect the site will be required. The distances involved to connect it to existing infrastructure will be significant, expensive and impractical; and such work would be extremely disruptive over a sustained period of time to the existing community.
It is also evident that across very similar Traveller sites there are many problems with waste materials being discarded and accumulated on site. In some cases, these sites have turned into enterprises where scrap and waste materials have been traded. There are significant health and contamination concerns around this which would be a risk to both the Traveller community and existing communities.
6. Amenities – There simply isn’t the amenities available for a dwelling of this size to be based in such a rural area. This will put extra pressure on local schools, doctors, dentists, and other amenities which are already oversubscribed.
7. Noise – Residents of the site would be subjected to large amounts of traffic noise as the site is wedged between the A47, the Flyover, and Acle Road. Caravans have thin walls, and it would be unfair on families and children living in them trying to sleep and breathe clean air. It is important to highlight that the B1140 is a road used by many heavy goods vehicles who travel along it, especially those that transport goods to and from the Sugar Beet Factory in Cantley. The noise levels from these vehicles travelling over the flyover would be unbearable in the site and would likely cause high levels of discomfort and potential health issues to its residents.
8. Flood Risk – The site is locally known to flood, and the land is heavy as it is based on clay, which never drains well. During wet winters there is often areas of standing water in the field. After construction using lots of concrete and the use of heavy machinery, these conditions are likely to be worsened considerably and pose a flood risk to the residents on the new site.
9. Commitment to enforcing the plan also needs to be addressed with respect to this and any other proposed sites, particularly in relation to item 2 (overcrowding) and item 5 (waste). What measures will be put in in place, monitored and ENFORCED to ensure that the number of homes do not exceed the plan.
We therefore consider that a cost-benefit analysis of this proposed site will demonstrate that it is completely unsuitable for this area, quite apart from causing a large number of avoidable and unnecessary complications for the existing local community.
Strumpshaw Parish Council write to object to the above proposal of a new Gypsy and Traveller site in North Burlingham for the following reasons:
1. Location & proximity to the A47 – The proposed dwelling is extremely close to the A47, a major trunk road. This is a completely unsuitable location for families to live and to be housed in caravans, which offer absolutely no protection should a vehicle come off the road in an accident. There is an increased risk of accidents near junctions and this would be a busy junction with high speeds.
2. Overcrowding – The site is proposed to have 15 double pitches, meaning 30 homes. As with other similar existing sites, it is common for the travelling gypsy community to overfill sites. This community is known to often have large family units, the local areas will be impacted by supporting potentially an additional 100-150 or more people from the overfilling of the site.
No specific mention, let alone proposed commitment, has been made of the outstanding need to identify provisions and resources to enable the local communities in the catchment area to support such an influx of people. For example, school and medical resources and facilities would need to be professionally reviewed and adequately funded with additional resources.
3. Visual Impairment – The proposal would be incredibly difficult to conceal and would be clearly visible from both the flyover and the A47. This would be unsightly and ruin the existing rural landscape and would result in the devaluation of existing residents property.
4. Road Safety & Hazards to Children & Pets – The road presents a serious hazard to children who often run freely around sites like this. All it takes is for one of these children to roam onto the A47 from the site and cause a serious road traffic accident. This would not only harm or kill the child but possibly also multiple other road users. It is also proposed to increase the speed to a 70 mph limit on this new section of road and the risk of death in such an incident would be very high.
The travelling gypsy community also typically have a lot of dogs, many of which are left to roam around their sites too. There is a huge risk of one or more of these dogs making their way on the A47 and also causing potentially fatal road traffic accidents.
5. Pollution and Waste – The site has no connection to existing sewage infrastructure. This means it is likely that extensive work to install a new sewage treatment system to connect the site will be required. The distances involved to connect it to existing infrastructure will be significant, expensive and impractical; and such work would be extremely disruptive over a sustained period of time to the existing community.
It is also evident that across very similar Traveller sites there are many problems with waste materials being discarded and accumulated on site. In some cases, these sites have turned into enterprises where scrap and waste materials have been traded. There are significant health and contamination concerns around this which would be a risk to both the Traveller community and existing communities.
6. Amenities – There simply isn’t the amenities available for a dwelling of this size to be based in such a rural area. This will put extra pressure on local schools, doctors, dentists, and other amenities which are already oversubscribed.
7. Noise – Residents of the site would be subjected to large amounts of traffic noise as the site is wedged between the A47, the Flyover, and Acle Road. Caravans have thin walls, and it would be unfair on families and children living in them trying to sleep and breathe clean air. It is important to highlight that the B1140 is a road used by many heavy goods vehicles who travel along it, especially those that transport goods to and from the Sugar Beet Factory in Cantley. The noise levels from these vehicles travelling over the flyover would be unbearable in the site and would likely cause high levels of discomfort and potential health issues to its residents.
8. Flood Risk – The site is locally known to flood, and the land is heavy as it is based on clay, which never drains well. During wet winters there is often areas of standing water in the field. After construction using lots of concrete and the use of heavy machinery, these conditions are likely to be worsened considerably and pose a flood risk to the residents on the new site.
9. Commitment to enforcing the plan also needs to be addressed with respect to this and any other proposed sites, particularly in relation to item 2 (overcrowding) and item 5 (waste). What measures will be put in in place, monitored and ENFORCED to ensure that the number of homes do not exceed the plan.
We therefore consider that a cost-benefit analysis of this proposed site will demonstrate that it is completely unsuitable for this area, quite apart from causing a large number of avoidable and unnecessary complications for the existing local community.
