Hengest
09-07-2005, 11:28 AM
Forwarded from OR List.
Greetings Folks
Some of you may recall back in December I asked for help with notifying my
council about objections to a proposed development at the end of my road and to
which so many of you kindly responded. As predicted though, Bermac are
challenging the refusal. Here is a reminder of the original details:
The proposed development work is in the grounds around an old hall at the end of
my road. Gaywood Hall sits in front of the remains of a 13th century Bishop's
Palace- the very one that King John was visiting when he infamously lost his
jewels in The Wash: the sea used to come up to the Bishop's Lean before mud
flats and dykes were constructed to push it back, creating new land. The
proposal is to build 36 or 37 new 4-5 bedroomed detached houses within the area
around the hall, as an exclusive development, but as is so often the case with
these plans, there are several issues at stake which I shall try and list as
succinctly as possible.
*Gaywood Hall Drive (GHD)- the road that leads up to the hall- is really just
that: a driveway, so that it only has houses along one side of it. The occupants
of the five houses at the end of the road are actually granted special
permission to use that part of it to reach their own houses because it is
officially part of the hall. The opposite side of the road faces onto a large
area of land with a cricket pitch, small community hall, a bowling green and
many trees on which there is a preservation order. Beyond that is a driveway
leading up to the local cemetery. Robert Bull, the owner of GH, has illegally
shut access to the hall: there should be a right of way through it. And it is
surrounded by tall fencing, which he erected after moving in.
*In the recent past, the hall was used as a technical college. The education
department wanted to widen the drive up to the hall to allow buses up and down
the drive and to build extensions on the site; but permission was denied because
of the preservation order on the trees and the presence of the Bishop's mound.
They then sold the hall cheaply to Mr Bull on condition that he would restore
the property, which he has done. However, he is now hoping to allow Bermac
Properties from Chelmsford to do the development. They have apparently developed
dozens of similar places and are billionaires whilst Mr Bull has apparently done
something similar to three other places and has a sideline in exotic cars such
as Ferraris. Rumour has it they are brothers!
*The road simply could not tolerate the level of traffic that 36-37 detached
houses would bring- particularly since they are likely to be large executive
type vehicles. There are already problems with flooding on the land in the park
area and in local resident's gardens because of development work around the
bypass further out of Kings Lynn: the land is marsh. Additionally, many old folk
live around the area and walk their elderly dogs up and down the driveway. It is
used by cyclists and people walking their kids to and from school. There is no
pavement and so to have all that traffic would make it dangerous for these
people and dogs. There would also be a lot more pollution.
*There are already the maximum of 5 extra houses built at the end of the drive-
hence the special permission granted for these people regarding access. There
are- legally- no more houses supposed to be built.
*With regard to fire safety regulations and so forth, there should be another
road out from the estate if extra traffic is going up and down it. There are no
such plans- unless there are ideas to use Cemetery Drive on the opposite side of
the parkland, in which case the area would be ruined. It is possible to allow
heavy vehicles along it and they do drive up and down there already. But there
are no such known plans to make it into an extra road from the hall.
*The area is home to a lot of wildlife including: squirrels, bats, jays,
woodpeckers, owls, muntjack deer, magpies, ducks (there is a pond in the grounds
of GH), newts, blackbirds, crows, finches, doves, thrushes, sparrows, hedgehogs,
frogs etc.
*Inside the grounds there are many trees with preservation orders on them
including yew hedges, pine, beech, oaks, willows and holly. The plan is to cut
down every fifth tree. However, building work will wreck the roots and in all
likelihood, these would then end up being removed due to 'sickness.' Builders
also do not want trees etc in the way and it is not beyond the realms of reason
that there could be backhanders to remove the trees due to alleged disease.
(This locality is notorious for such things!).
*Norwich council checked GHD for its suitability as a cycle track and to
signpost it accordingly. They concluded that it was so safe, there was no need
for signs. They do not know about the plans for the hall which were made known
just after this!
At the weekend, I attended a meeting in which further information came to light
as follows:
*Bermac have already advertised the development on their website- before the
plans have been passed! Check under 'Residential' then 'coming soon' as listed
on that page. http://www.bermacproperties.co.uk
*Bermac maintain there is no undergrowth, when it is obvious all around.
However, there has been a 65% mortality rate amongst the local ducks because the
present owners have dogs, are doing building work within the grounds and not
maintaining the pond in the grounds. Likewise, other wildlife could well be on
the decline.
*Drainage from the area only goes through a single outlet; a few years back,
there was a major leakage of sewage when the college who then owned the building
constructed a hardstanding for cars. Already, garden flooding is a problem.
*The hall is about 6 feet above some nearby houses, so pollution from the cars
will drop down into these people's living space.
*Traffic congestion on the main road at the end of the driveway is already bad
and this is the only road to the local hospital. It simply cannot take more
traffic.
*The hospital cannot cope with demand and is already on red alert constantly.
Continually increasing demand could well lead to its closure: this was revelaed
by one of the hospital staff.
*No new schools are being built, despite 2000 new houses being built in the
Kings Lynn area and more (7000+) being built in surrounding villages. Many
children are being transported to places such as Hunstanton; this will mean one
thing: even more housing out that way also. The land around here is reclaimed
marshland and general flooding already a problem.
*The hall has some very important underground ruins that would be lost. A large
sundial has vanished and there are some non-descript builders regularly seen
transporting rubble in and out of the hall grounds.
*Local groups are trying to get the place listed but this is being blocked-
apparently to do with a ruling that the building must be over 1800 years old.
Archaeologists are livid about it.
*The cricketers have been asked to move their games next year to the nearby
sports centre and the council are doing little to maintain a cricket pitch that
was once fenced off to protect it as an important local- and historical-
recreational ground. If this happens, the field opposite will no longer be
properly protected.
*Bermac have bought the bungalow on the corner of the driveway and main road,
which could mean they plan to widen the driveway at the end.
Numerous bits of information suggest that the council have sold out to Bermac on
this and worse still, many important historical artefacts appear to be missing.
The whole scenario stinks of corruption and sadly, Bermac's advertising is
already having the desired effect of making some local people feel defeated. No
doubt, this is but a small example of a huge level of corruption sweeping our
Odal Lands. We cannot let such sharks beat us down.
Now I know some of you very kindly put aside time to object on the first round
and that was very much appreciated. However, I am now asking if you could do the
same again- even if you just write exactly the same as you did on the last
occasion. Because if you don't, the planners will automatically assume your
interest no longer holds. Hopefully, the more folk that write outside of the
town, the more obvious it is that the case is known beyond the locality and the
more difficult their job is to bully local people and ruin the countryside.
On this occasion, letters must be sent in triplicate quoting reference number
APP/V2635/A/05/1185907 to:
Planning Inspectorate
Room 3/21 Hawk Wing
Temple Quay House,
2 The Square,
Temple Quay,
Bristol
BS1 6PN
*The closing date for objections is 27th September 2005.
If anybody has any queries, I will do my best to answer them- or at least find
out the relevant information for you.
With many thanks for your help.
Hael our sacred Odal Lands
FFF
Eowyn OR
Greetings Folks
Some of you may recall back in December I asked for help with notifying my
council about objections to a proposed development at the end of my road and to
which so many of you kindly responded. As predicted though, Bermac are
challenging the refusal. Here is a reminder of the original details:
The proposed development work is in the grounds around an old hall at the end of
my road. Gaywood Hall sits in front of the remains of a 13th century Bishop's
Palace- the very one that King John was visiting when he infamously lost his
jewels in The Wash: the sea used to come up to the Bishop's Lean before mud
flats and dykes were constructed to push it back, creating new land. The
proposal is to build 36 or 37 new 4-5 bedroomed detached houses within the area
around the hall, as an exclusive development, but as is so often the case with
these plans, there are several issues at stake which I shall try and list as
succinctly as possible.
*Gaywood Hall Drive (GHD)- the road that leads up to the hall- is really just
that: a driveway, so that it only has houses along one side of it. The occupants
of the five houses at the end of the road are actually granted special
permission to use that part of it to reach their own houses because it is
officially part of the hall. The opposite side of the road faces onto a large
area of land with a cricket pitch, small community hall, a bowling green and
many trees on which there is a preservation order. Beyond that is a driveway
leading up to the local cemetery. Robert Bull, the owner of GH, has illegally
shut access to the hall: there should be a right of way through it. And it is
surrounded by tall fencing, which he erected after moving in.
*In the recent past, the hall was used as a technical college. The education
department wanted to widen the drive up to the hall to allow buses up and down
the drive and to build extensions on the site; but permission was denied because
of the preservation order on the trees and the presence of the Bishop's mound.
They then sold the hall cheaply to Mr Bull on condition that he would restore
the property, which he has done. However, he is now hoping to allow Bermac
Properties from Chelmsford to do the development. They have apparently developed
dozens of similar places and are billionaires whilst Mr Bull has apparently done
something similar to three other places and has a sideline in exotic cars such
as Ferraris. Rumour has it they are brothers!
*The road simply could not tolerate the level of traffic that 36-37 detached
houses would bring- particularly since they are likely to be large executive
type vehicles. There are already problems with flooding on the land in the park
area and in local resident's gardens because of development work around the
bypass further out of Kings Lynn: the land is marsh. Additionally, many old folk
live around the area and walk their elderly dogs up and down the driveway. It is
used by cyclists and people walking their kids to and from school. There is no
pavement and so to have all that traffic would make it dangerous for these
people and dogs. There would also be a lot more pollution.
*There are already the maximum of 5 extra houses built at the end of the drive-
hence the special permission granted for these people regarding access. There
are- legally- no more houses supposed to be built.
*With regard to fire safety regulations and so forth, there should be another
road out from the estate if extra traffic is going up and down it. There are no
such plans- unless there are ideas to use Cemetery Drive on the opposite side of
the parkland, in which case the area would be ruined. It is possible to allow
heavy vehicles along it and they do drive up and down there already. But there
are no such known plans to make it into an extra road from the hall.
*The area is home to a lot of wildlife including: squirrels, bats, jays,
woodpeckers, owls, muntjack deer, magpies, ducks (there is a pond in the grounds
of GH), newts, blackbirds, crows, finches, doves, thrushes, sparrows, hedgehogs,
frogs etc.
*Inside the grounds there are many trees with preservation orders on them
including yew hedges, pine, beech, oaks, willows and holly. The plan is to cut
down every fifth tree. However, building work will wreck the roots and in all
likelihood, these would then end up being removed due to 'sickness.' Builders
also do not want trees etc in the way and it is not beyond the realms of reason
that there could be backhanders to remove the trees due to alleged disease.
(This locality is notorious for such things!).
*Norwich council checked GHD for its suitability as a cycle track and to
signpost it accordingly. They concluded that it was so safe, there was no need
for signs. They do not know about the plans for the hall which were made known
just after this!
At the weekend, I attended a meeting in which further information came to light
as follows:
*Bermac have already advertised the development on their website- before the
plans have been passed! Check under 'Residential' then 'coming soon' as listed
on that page. http://www.bermacproperties.co.uk
*Bermac maintain there is no undergrowth, when it is obvious all around.
However, there has been a 65% mortality rate amongst the local ducks because the
present owners have dogs, are doing building work within the grounds and not
maintaining the pond in the grounds. Likewise, other wildlife could well be on
the decline.
*Drainage from the area only goes through a single outlet; a few years back,
there was a major leakage of sewage when the college who then owned the building
constructed a hardstanding for cars. Already, garden flooding is a problem.
*The hall is about 6 feet above some nearby houses, so pollution from the cars
will drop down into these people's living space.
*Traffic congestion on the main road at the end of the driveway is already bad
and this is the only road to the local hospital. It simply cannot take more
traffic.
*The hospital cannot cope with demand and is already on red alert constantly.
Continually increasing demand could well lead to its closure: this was revelaed
by one of the hospital staff.
*No new schools are being built, despite 2000 new houses being built in the
Kings Lynn area and more (7000+) being built in surrounding villages. Many
children are being transported to places such as Hunstanton; this will mean one
thing: even more housing out that way also. The land around here is reclaimed
marshland and general flooding already a problem.
*The hall has some very important underground ruins that would be lost. A large
sundial has vanished and there are some non-descript builders regularly seen
transporting rubble in and out of the hall grounds.
*Local groups are trying to get the place listed but this is being blocked-
apparently to do with a ruling that the building must be over 1800 years old.
Archaeologists are livid about it.
*The cricketers have been asked to move their games next year to the nearby
sports centre and the council are doing little to maintain a cricket pitch that
was once fenced off to protect it as an important local- and historical-
recreational ground. If this happens, the field opposite will no longer be
properly protected.
*Bermac have bought the bungalow on the corner of the driveway and main road,
which could mean they plan to widen the driveway at the end.
Numerous bits of information suggest that the council have sold out to Bermac on
this and worse still, many important historical artefacts appear to be missing.
The whole scenario stinks of corruption and sadly, Bermac's advertising is
already having the desired effect of making some local people feel defeated. No
doubt, this is but a small example of a huge level of corruption sweeping our
Odal Lands. We cannot let such sharks beat us down.
Now I know some of you very kindly put aside time to object on the first round
and that was very much appreciated. However, I am now asking if you could do the
same again- even if you just write exactly the same as you did on the last
occasion. Because if you don't, the planners will automatically assume your
interest no longer holds. Hopefully, the more folk that write outside of the
town, the more obvious it is that the case is known beyond the locality and the
more difficult their job is to bully local people and ruin the countryside.
On this occasion, letters must be sent in triplicate quoting reference number
APP/V2635/A/05/1185907 to:
Planning Inspectorate
Room 3/21 Hawk Wing
Temple Quay House,
2 The Square,
Temple Quay,
Bristol
BS1 6PN
*The closing date for objections is 27th September 2005.
If anybody has any queries, I will do my best to answer them- or at least find
out the relevant information for you.
With many thanks for your help.
Hael our sacred Odal Lands
FFF
Eowyn OR