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East Anglia GREEN

SNC Leader Replies to Parish Council Objection

From: John Fuller <john@johnfuller.org.uk>
Date: Thursday, 16 June 2022 at 10:40
To: Amanda McMurray <amanda.mcmurray@bressinghamandfersfield.org>
Cc: James Easter <easter255@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: OBJECTION to East Anglia Green Energy Enablement proposal – Bressingham and Fersfield Parish Council

Hello Amanda

I arranged for this matter to be discussed as an urgent item at our scheduled Cabinet meeting On Monday.   In advance I had contacted a number of objectors and gave them the opportunity to make some valuable contributions to the debate.  These will be captured and incorporated into the Council’s response to the preliminary consultation.

It was explained to us by officials that the ‘consultation’ process so far carries little weight.  I would characterise it as a smoking-out process.  Its aim to ask local people what they think of the proposals has certainly succeeded.   But not in the way that they anticipated!

We have been able to draw attention to the lack of meaningful consultation, not the detailed consideration of all the issues that should have been taken into account at the earliest stage. There seems to be scant attention given to landscape, heritage or natural assets.   There has been no obvious consideration of alternative options.  The economic impacts on Bressingham and Tibenham Airfield are completely absent.  And nobody has given a thought for Diss which will be surrounded on all sides.

Given the scant detail there is no alternative but to object against what is before us.   There will be a Public Enquiry where all the issues will be aired and we will ensure that all the things that you have raised and those who have raised concerns alongside you will be heard.

National Grid spurned our advice and offers to put them in touch with interested parties and organisations.  Sadly their afternoon consultation in Mulbarton Village Hall was wholly inadequate.   We will hold them to account.

The key next step will be the public enquiry.  We have all identified the key issues that need to be addressed at that point, one of which will be consideration of offshore.  It’s clearly our preferred option.  However, I don’t think it would be wise to focus ENTIRELY on that one to the exclusion of all other matters in case it becomes technically infeasible and then we end up with the plan that’s before us unaltered.

I am grateful to you for contacting me and we shall shortly be publishing our response to the issue and which we will publicise on 16th June.


John

Councillor John Fuller OBE
Leader of South Norfolk District Council. Member for Brooke Ward
The Old Hall Coach House The Street  Brooke  Norwich  Norfolk  NR15 1LB
Phone +44 1508 558280 John's Mobile +44 7500 662255
john@johnfuller.org.uk    www.johnfuller.org.uk

Dear Councillor Fuller,

I write as Chair of Bressingham and Fersfield Parish Council, representing the views of our Parishioners and on behalf of my fellow Councillors.

We oppose the East Anglia “Green” Energy Enablement proposal, proposing construction of overhead transmission line from Dunston to Tilbury and passing through our Parish.

We urge South Norfolk District Council to oppose the scheme and to take action to ensure that it does not proceed, reflecting the views, not only of our Parishioners, but of a large proportion of your South Norfolk residents.

There is clear strategic alignment and public interest in your objecting to this proposal on the grounds of its significant negative impact on quality of life and the irreversible damage that it will cause to our environment:

  1. It is contrary to policies DM3.8 and DM4.5 of the Local Plan, in that its construction would damage the landscape, destroy views across farmland and open countryside and will be detrimental to its character through the erosion of its open nature.
  1. It is contrary to Planning Enforcement Strategy which states that development should not:

1.       affect the amenity of nearby residents or

2.       cause serious and irreversible harm to the environment.

Our Parishioners have told us, variously, of their alarm, bewilderment and outright rage at the proposal.

They have also told us of their wholehearted opposition to the irreversible damage that will undoubtedly occur, both during and after construction, if the proposed construction were allowed to proceed, including:

1.       Destruction of Amenity: The proposal – a desk-based exercise – states specifically that the choice of infrastructure and selection of a “preferred” route are cheapest and the fastest to build.

It makes no consideration of the practicalities of construction or of maintenance requirements in our region and no account whatsoever of environmental, economic or “human” factors, beyond identifying where population density might be lower.

The line of 50m high lattice steel pylons would run alongside an important SSSI situated within the designated Special Landscapes Area across the Waveney Valley at Bressingham, resulting in loss of habitats, long-term damage to fields and meadows,

The line of 50m high steel pylons will carve through our landscape, breach our open skies and damage the quality of life of people that live near its route or enjoy visiting it.

2.       Damage the local economy through loss of local businesses and tourism: Blooms of Bressingham’s railway and world-famous garden will be crossed by the proposed power line, the development is expected to destroy their weddings and events services. Local farmers’ operations are affected through South Norfolk.

3.       Damage to the Environment

CO2 Emissions

National Grid defines green energy as coming from natural sources https://www.nationalgrid.com/stories/energy-explained/what-is-green-energy .

East Anglia Green’s claim of being a green energy proposal focuses on the relatively low carbon dioxide emissions coming from wind power generation (compared to fossil fuel generation). However, it does not consider mitigation of leakage that is inherent from electricity distribution networks, nor does it consider the embodied CO2 of raw materials within the network infrastructure, or the CO2 emissions generated from the construction and maintenance processes.

4.       Damage to Local Infrastructure:

Local infrastructure around the proposed construction area in our Parish consists mainly of rural single-track lanes, used by local people and businesses and also frequented by walkers, cyclists and horse-riders.

They are unsuitable for heavy goods vehicles and plant; any such use would cause significant damage and would put other road users at risk of accident and injury.

Yours sincerely,

Amanda McMurray

——————————————————

Amanda McMurray PhD MBA MIoD IMC

Bressingham and Fersfield Parish Councillor

Email: amanda.mcmurray@bressinghamandfersfield.org

Tel: +44 7774 830422

East Anglia GREEN

Parish Council Objection to East Anglia GREEN

From: “Planning (SNC)” <Planning.snc@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk>
Date: Wednesday, 15 June 2022 at 12:00
To: “amanda.mcmurray@bressinghamandfersfield.org” <amanda.mcmurray@bressinghamandfersfield.org>
Subject: RE: OBJECTION to East Anglia Green Energy Enablement proposal – Bressingham and Fersfield Parish Council

Good morning

Thank you for your email in respect of the East Anglia GREEN project.

The Council following its Cabinet meeting on Monday will be responding to National Grid’s non-statutory consultation for its proposed National Significant Infrastructure Project East Anglia GREEN Objecting to the proposed development.

The link to the recording of the Cabinet meeting is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZciRgwo84-iPyRImsTCIng   for your information.

The Council’s response will be uploaded to planning application no. 2022/1116 which it has created for openness and to enable it to be viewed in the public domain, once it has been sent to National Grid.

South Norfolk Council is not the determining Authority as the proposal is a National Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) determined by the Secretary of State, at the Cabinet meeting we referred to the 6 stages of the NSIP planning process and I have provided attached the link to the Planning Inspectorates web page for your information.    

https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/application-process/the-process/

The Council will not be forwarding the comments you have made and I would suggest if you haven’t already done so, you may wish to send these directly to National Grid as part of the consultation, which closes tomorrow 16 June 2022 emails to   EastAngliaGREEN@nationalgrid.com

Kind regards

John

John Oakley
Business Support Officer: Technical
e john.oakley@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk  

From: Amanda McMurray <amanda.mcmurray@bressinghamandfersfield.org>
Sent: 15 June 2022 10:27
To: John Fuller <John.Fuller@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk>; Claire Curtis <Claire.Curtis@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk>; Tracey.lincoln@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk
Cc: James Easter <James.Easter@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk>; bandf.pc@outlook.com (External) <bandf.pc@outlook.com>
Subject: OBJECTION to East Anglia Green Energy Enablement proposal – Bressingham and Fersfield Parish Council

Dear Councillor Fuller,

I write as Chair of Bressingham and Fersfield Parish Council, representing the views of our Parishioners and on behalf of my fellow Councillors.

We oppose the East Anglia “Green” Energy Enablement proposal, proposing construction of overhead transmission line from Dunston to Tilbury and passing through our Parish.

We urge South Norfolk District Council to oppose the scheme and to take action to ensure that it does not proceed, reflecting the views, not only of our Parishioners, but of a large proportion of your South Norfolk residents.

There is clear strategic alignment and public interest in your objecting to this proposal on the grounds of its significant negative impact on quality of life and the irreversible damage that it will cause to our environment:

  • It is contrary to policies DM3.8 and DM4.5 of the Local Plan, in that its construction would damage the landscape, destroy views across farmland and open countryside and will be detrimental to its character through the erosion of its open nature.
  • It is contrary to Planning Enforcement Strategy which states that development should not:
  • affect the amenity of nearby residents or
  • cause serious and irreversible harm to the environment.

Our Parishioners have told us, variously, of their alarm, bewilderment and outright rage at the proposal.

They have also told us of their wholehearted opposition to the irreversible damage that will undoubtedly occur, both during and after construction, if the proposed construction were allowed to proceed, including:

  1. Destruction of Amenity: The proposal – a desk-based exercise – states specifically that the choice of infrastructure and selection of a “preferred” route are cheapest and the fastest to build.

It makes no consideration of the practicalities of construction or of maintenance requirements in our region and no account whatsoever of environmental, economic or “human” factors, beyond identifying where population density might be lower.

The line of 50m high lattice steel pylons would run alongside an important SSSI situated within the designated Special Landscapes Area across the Waveney Valley at Bressingham, resulting in loss of habitats, long-term damage to fields and meadows,

The line of 50m high steel pylons will carve through our landscape, breach our open skies and damage the quality of life of people that live near its route or enjoy visiting it.

  1. Damage the local economy through loss of local businesses and tourism: Blooms of Bressingham’s railway and world-famous garden will be crossed by the proposed power line, the development is expected to destroy their weddings and events services. Local farmers’ operations are affected through South Norfolk.
  1. Damage to the Environment

CO2 Emissions

National Grid defines green energy as coming from natural sources https://www.nationalgrid.com/stories/energy-explained/what-is-green-energy .

East Anglia Green’s claim of being a green energy proposal focuses on the relatively low carbon dioxide emissions coming from wind power generation (compared to fossil fuel generation). However, it does not consider mitigation of leakage that is inherent from electricity distribution networks, nor does it consider the embodied CO2 of raw materials within the network infrastructure, or the CO2 emissions generated from the construction and maintenance processes.

  1. Damage to Local Infrastructure:

Local infrastructure around the proposed construction area in our Parish consists mainly of rural single-track lanes, used by local people and businesses and also frequented by walkers, cyclists and horse-riders.

They are unsuitable for heavy goods vehicles and plant; any such use would cause significant damage and would put other road users at risk of accident and injury.

Yours sincerely,

Amanda McMurray

Reply from Anglian Water – Ref: Burst Pipes

Dear Mr Mortimer

Thank you for your time today,

As discussed there is no particular reason for any mains bursts and Anglian water manage the areas we have bursts and monitor both frequency and customers effected with low pressures and interruptions to their supply’s,

The area discussed is not classed as a high burst area and would not fall into the critical criteria so is not being proposed at the present for any upgrading, unfortunately with some locations we have areas that are at the end of the systems and we are limited to how we can move water around the area however we do look at the potential to install mains assets so we can utilise water supply restoration options which allows us to inject directly into the system aiding in restoring any effected customers.

We do apologise for the low pressures and interruptions caused, there are multiple reasons for which we have interruption events that are not within our control, for instance ground movement ( causes contractions on pipework) weather orientated also 3rd party damage where another 3rd person has struck or broken a pipe whilst carrying out other amenities work or grounds-work to which we have to react in an emergency situation leaving us with minimum time to plan a repair as opposed to when we have planned work which we look into all restoration options prior to the work so as not to adversely impact our customers.

Kind regards

Dale Slater

Network Service Support Manager

Norwich

St Johns Church, Bressingham Entrance

Bressingham Church – Help Required

We are always looking for volunteers in all kinds of roles. For example:

  • Diana (the Church Warden) would like some help in taking out the Cock Crow to the various people who deliver it to our houses.
  • Anyone who has a ‘strimmer’ and would like to help keep the gateways etc. tidy, especially in the summer would also be a big help.
  • Perhaps someone might like to provide and look after plants for either side of the lychgate.
  • and lots more…

We are all extremely grateful to those who do help, in particular John and Robert Brooke who continue to cut the front car park and Jeremy Green who sees to the hedge cutting, all without cost to the church. Also, many thanks are due to Alison Dunbell who looks after the two gardens by the west door.

Village Hall picture - pen art version

Bressingham Village Hall – A Thank You

Over the past few months residents of the villages may have noticed the rather impressive ‘temporary roof’ which towered over the Village Hall during the latter part of the year, and the coming and goings of various local builders and tradespeople. This was due to major structural repairs and much needed maintenance to the main roof, insulation, main front window and the replacing of the condemned boiler system!  

We are now pleased to announce that works have been completed to strengthen and re-tile the roof (including insulation), install a large front replacement double glazed window, and replace the entire heating system including the radiators.

We could not have hoped to attempt any of these works without  good advice, and a series of very generous donations from sponsors, so on behalf of the Bressingham and Fersfield Village Hall Management Committee, we offer a huge thank you to:

Bressingham and Fersfield Parish Council

The Fuel Allotments Charity

The Geoffrey Watling Charity

James Easter – Bressingham and Fersfield District Councillor

Their kind assistance has saved our Village Hall for the future, and we look forward to welcoming users, old and new, for many years to come, into what is now a dry, warm and very welcoming place.

Bressingham and Fersfield Village Hall and Playing Fields Committee