It is hardly an operation cloaked in secrecy and stealth. The old year ended and the new one began with ugly rashes of even more applications for housing schemes blatantly built far more on greed than need.
It seems locations in different parts of our county are being targeted in turn to take their share of the burden bound to get even heavier as both main political parties readily endorse such cynical “let-rip” policies in pursuit of general election points - along with their mutual disregard for obvious climate change concerns.
We are being urged to gamble far too much of our proud heritage and character on inflated hopes of economic booty and a jobs bonanza … and the shocking truth is there’s hardly any co-ordinated opposition to tackle such contemptuous antics.
Perhaps a burst of good ol-fashioned Norfolk fundamentalism, something akin to a home-made Peasants’ Revolt or Kett’s Rebellion with fourses under remaining hedges and a free pint at the local pub afterwards, could hasten widespread exposure and tackling of an environmental scandal on our very own doorsteps.
Yes, there’s an occasional nod towards a green belt around Norwich just as untold destruction claims thousands more trees and valuable pastoral pockets. There are odd visits from government ministers designed to assure the backwoods brigade it will all be worth it once the lunar landscape has been decked out for more traffic and other development trimmings.
Little bursts of resistance in city, town and village are regularly smothered by fresh torrents of planning applications to compliant county and district councils and an easily-induced perception that it’s a waste of time objecting. Bulldozers are bound to flatten the most bullish of justifiable opposition.
Breathtaking arrogance at the top and mostly long-winded apathy at grass roots level – there’s a handy old phrase with a green tinge – continues to fuel an expansionist campaign based far too freely on environmental destruction and “jam tomorrow” sermons.
The old argument about the need to meet a drastic shortage of “affordable housing” might carry a modicum more weight if rampant developers put that issue on top of their agendas. Perhaps, like the rest of us, thy have no clear idea what that label stands for but drop in a few here and there if only to show they are listening and learning about real local needs.
Mind you, that doesn’t stop them dropping the idea altogether when the scheme suddenly becomes “unviable to include a certain number of affordable homes” …all too common a verdict in these plundering times.
It is impossible to keep tabs on so many building bids pouring in to join the frantic fray, so I’ve picked out just a couple of recent applications where strong local objections have been shoved aside in favour of developers.
Hopefully, a resultant trickle of defiance can inspire a useful wave of protests across the county as that “have your say on what happens in your own backyard” platitude gradually morphs into something like a genuine invitation.
Banham , just a few miles from fast-expanding Attleborough, is setting a feisty parish example as a scheme that will increase its population by a third and could add to severe flooding and sewage troubles, is approved by Breckland Council..
The 43-home development on land off Kenninghall Road, where widespread flooding in 2020 forced people to abandon their houses, surely warrants a f few more rounds of Banham belligerence.
North Walsham, well used to tatty edges of urban sprawl, has got its dander up over a green light for another “ fringe benefit” of over 340 houses … on a site cleared of woodland to make way for the project! That act of destruction prompted over 750 people to sign a petition to block the major scheme.
There’s also lack of trust among locals that Hopkins Homes will deliver 15pc of affordable homes promised after the company cut all affordable houses from a scheme in Holt. Final approval here depends on receipt of a positive assessment from Norfolk County Council’s flood experts, who are yet to submit a report on the controversial plans.
Meanwhile, Nursery Drive woodland joins countless other valuable spots of natural beauty wiped out by rampaging bandwagons packed with inflated promises, dodgy inducements and the ever – growing hard-hat brigade enthusiastically waving copes of their “growth-suit-all” masterplans.
It’s up to all our towns, villages plus a city and suburbs feeling under siege to square up with renewed vigour and a firm belief in proper team spirit to combat systematic crushing of our much-lauded countryside qualities.
Time to stop confusing change with invariable progress and to accept an urgent need to value and defend Norfolk’s distinctiveness.
Time for an old-fashioned uprising!
I'm calling for a new Peasants’ Revolt to end crushing of our countryside
5
1
11.02.2024
It is hardly an operation cloaked in secrecy and stealth. The old year ended and the new one began with ugly rashes of even more applications for housing schemes blatantly built far more on greed than need.
It seems locations in different parts of our county are being targeted in turn to take their share of the burden bound to get even heavier as both main political parties readily endorse such cynical “let-rip” policies in pursuit of general election points - along with their mutual disregard for obvious climate change concerns.
We are being urged to gamble far too much of our proud heritage and character on inflated hopes of economic booty and a jobs bonanza … and the shocking truth is there’s hardly any co-ordinated opposition to tackle such contemptuous antics.
Perhaps a burst of good ol-fashioned Norfolk fundamentalism, something akin to a home-made Peasants’ Revolt or Kett’s Rebellion with fourses under remaining hedges and a free pint at the local pub afterwards, could hasten widespread exposure and tackling of an environmental scandal on our very own doorsteps.
Yes, there’s an occasional nod towards a green belt around Norwich just as untold destruction claims thousands........
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