West Bilney Wood

February 2017. It is reported that

The southern boundary of the area has been moved northwards into the wooded area. Clicking on the map will show an enlarged copy.

(It is believed that this was done at the behest of English Heritage in order to move the boundary further away from Pentney Abbey - a listed building).

An interactive map of the revised area may be seen on the County Council website - here (Choose AOS(D))

You are invited to make representations to the Council on this matter. Note that representations made be made only with regard to the new modifications: See below for details about how to do this.

(Webmasters note: It is understood that though the statement that representations may only be made about the revised documents, the County Council is prepared to accept further representations about the whole of the Development Plan - NOTE THE DEADLINE HOWEVER - 27 OCTOBER!).

Representations which are duly made will be submitted alongside the published Silica Sand Review document and the Modifications. The Silica Sand Review and Modifications will then be examined by a Planning Inspector.

Earlier information about this Consultation Exercise may be seen below and should be read in conjunction with this new information.

Following the end of the representations period, the 'Minerals Site Specific Allocations DPD - Single Issue Silica Sand Review', and the 'Pre-Submission Addendum: Modifications', along with relevant background documents and the representations received will be submitted to the Secretary of State later in 2016, for public examination by a Planning Inspector.

Links to the County Council website are:-

Silica Sand Review The Modifications document

A map showing the area of the silica sand resource is available here

How to respond:-

Where possible the County Council would prefer representations to be made directly to www.norfolk.gov.uk/nmwdf

However responses by post, fax and email will also be accepted.

Closing date is 27 October 2016 - 5pm.

(It is understood, subsequent to the event, that a meeting was held at West Bilney on Wednesday 19 October to discuss this matter as it might affect West Bilney wood. The meeting was attended by local parishioners and County, Borough and Parish Councillors. Discussions centered around the course of action to be followed. See Facebook page).

Note that Area of Search A - Snettisham - has been removed from the original documents; the amended document, as far as it concerns AOD A, reads as follows -

AOS A – Due to its proximity to the Norfolk Coast AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and the potential for views of AOS from within the AONB, it is considered that there is the potential for silica sand extraction within AOS A to affect the setting of the AONB and the landscape character of the area. Therefore AOS A is not allocated.

__________________

INFORMATION FROM THE COUNTY COUNCIL CONCERNING THE SITUATION WITH REGARD MINERAL EXTRACTION HAS BEEN RECEIVED.

The associated documents are updated versions of those that were published for discussion in April/May and November/December 2015' see 'Consultation Exercise 2015' below.

Representations concerning the latest proposals may be made from 16 May to 27 June 2016.

Two associated documents concerning this have been received.

• Norfolk Minerals and Waste Local Plan - a pdf file

• Local Plan Pre-submission document - a Word file which includes procedures to followed for making a representation.

Both may be viewed/downloaded - see the foot of this page.

Norfolk Minerals Site Specific Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD): Single Issue Silica Sand Review - Pre-Submission Document:

Invitation to make representations

I am writing to inform you that the County Council has published the Pre-Submission version of the Minerals Site Specific Allocations DPD - Single Issue Silica Sand Review. This document has been published to allow representations on the soundness and legal compliance of the document to be made, over a six week period, between 9am on 16 May and 5pm on 27 June 2016 (inclusive).

The silica sand resource in Norfolk occurs entirely within the administrative boundary of the Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

The Single Issue Silica Sand Review is needed to address the predicted shortfall,of 2.6 million tonnes, in the quantity of silica sand extraction sites allocated in the Minerals Site Specific Allocations DPD. It is predicted that around 750,000 tonnes of silica sand will be extracted from Norfolk every year.

The Silica Sand Review has been through the following stages: an Initial Consultation during March and April 2015, a 'call for sites' in June 2015, and a Preferred Options Consultation during November and December 2015.

The Pre-Submission version of the Silica Sand Review allocates one specific site for silica sand extraction and six Areas of Search (AoS) which have been defined by planning officers. Areas of search are large areas within which permission for silica sand extraction may be granted on a smaller area of land. Developers wanting to extract mineral from specific sites or land within an area of search allocated in the Silica Sand Review will still need to apply for and be granted planning permission before mineral extraction can take place.

The areas of search and site allocated in the Silica Sand Review Pre-Submission document are located in the following parishes: Bawsey, Dersingham, East Winch, Ingoldisthorpe, Marham, Pentney, Runcton Holme, Shouldham, Shouldham Thorpe, Snettisham, Stow Bardolph, Tottenhill, Wormegay. The Silica Sand Review Pre-Submission document is attached to this email.

In addition to the Pre-Submission document, the following documents which provide information to support the policies in the Silica Sand Review have also been published:

· Revised Policies Map (illustrates the policies contained in the Norfolk Minerals and Waste Local Plan)

· Sustainability Appraisal Report (Parts A and B) (shows social, environmental and economic impacts of the Silica Sand Review)

· Sustainability Appraisal non-technical summary (summary of above)

· Habitats Regulations Assessment (of impacts on European-designated nature conservation sites)

· Pre-Submission Statement of Consultation (details consultees and their responses)

· Equality Impact Assessment (how different people will be affected by the Silica Sand Review process and policies)

· Flood Risk Sequential Test (demonstrates compliance with the requirements of paragraphs 100-101 of the National Planning Policy Framework)

These documents are available for public inspection, free of charge, within normal opening hours up to and including 27 June 2016, at all public libraries in Norfolk, and at:

· Norfolk County Council, County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich, NR1 2DH

· Breckland District Council, Elizabeth House, Walpole Loke, East Dereham, NR19 1EE

· Broadland District Council, Thorpe Lodge, Yarmouth Road, Norwich, NR7 0DU

· Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Town Hall, Great Yarmouth,NR30 2QF

· Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk, King's Court, Chapel Street, King's Lynn, PE30 1EX

· North Norfolk District Council, Holt Road, Cromer, NR27 9EL

· Norwich City Council, City Hall, Bethel Street, Norwich, NR2 1NH

· South Norfolk Council, South Norfolk House, Swan Lane, Long Stratton, NR15 2XE

· The Broads Authority, Yare House, 62-64 Thorpe Road, Norwich, NR1 1RY

All documents are also available on Norfolk County Council's website at www.norfolk.gov.uk/nmwdf on the Silica Sand Review webpage, from 16 May 2016 when the representations period starts.

Where possible the County Council would prefer representations to be made directly to https://norfolk.jdi-consult.net/localplan/. However, responses by post, fax and email will also be accepted:

Post to: Planning Services, CES Department, Norfolk County Council, County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich, NR1 2DH

Fax: 01603 223219 - marked for the attention of Planning Services

Email: LDF@norfolk.gov.uk

A downloadable and printable representation form is attached and includes the Statement of Representations procedure.

All representations, using whatever method, must be made by 5pm on27 June 2016.

Representations may be accompanied by a request to be notified, at a specified address, of any of the following:

· that the Silica Sand Review has been submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination by a Planning Inspector

· the publication of recommendations of the Planning Inspector appointed to carry out the independent examination of the Silica Sand Review

· the adoption of the Silica Sand Review

Following the end of the representations period, the Pre-Submission version of the Silica Sand Review, relevant background documents and the representations received will be submitted to the Secretary of State later in 2016, for public examination by a Planning Inspector.

Yours faithfully

Caroline Jeffery

Principal Planner (Minerals and Waste Policy)

Planning Services

Environment and Planning

Community and Environmental Services Department

Direct dial telephone number: 01603 222193

E-mail: caroline.jeffery@norfolk.gov.uk

Norfolk County Council

General enquiries: 0344 800 8020 or information@norfolk.gov.uk

www.norfolk.gov.uk

OCTOBER 2015

County Council CONSULTATION EXERCISE 2015

THE COUNTY COUNCIL HAS RECENTLY ISSUED INFORMATION CONCERNING A CONSULTATION EXERCISE FOR THE REVIEW OF THE MINERALS 'SITE SPECIFIC ALLOCATION PLAN'.

(The following are extracts from the recently issued information).

The Preferred Options Consultation on the Single Issue Silica Sand Review of the Norfolk Minerals Site Specific Allocations Plan will take place over a six week period from 6 November to 21 December 2015 (inclusive), and I would welcome your comments.

The Minerals Site Specific Allocations Plan (adopted by full Council on 28/10/2013) contains a requirement for a Silica Sand Review of the Plan to be completed by 2016. The review is needed to address the predicted shortfall, of 2.5 million tonnes, in the quantity of silica sand extraction sites allocated in the Plan.

It is predicted that around 750,000 tonnes of silica sand will be extracted from Norfolk per annum. It is expected that no more than one or two additional specific sites will need to be allocated over the plan period (to 2026) to meet the shortfall.

The silica sand resource in Norfolk occurs entirely within the administrative boundary of the Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Plannning Officers have defined ten 'areas of search (AOS)' - a wide area within which permission for silica sand extraction may be granted for a smaller part of that area.

Included is: AOS D East Winch, Pentney

Copies of the Preferred Options Consultation Document, the Initial Sustainability Appraisal Report (Parts A and B) and the Habitats Regulations Assessment (Task 1), will be available for public inspection, free of charge, within normal opening hours from 6 November up to and including 21 December 2015, at all public libraries in Norfolk, and at:

Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk, King's Court, Chapel Street, King's Lynn, PE30 1EX

After the current consultation period finishes, the next stage in the preparation of the Silica Sand Single Issue Review will be the publication of the Pre-Submission document, which is planned to take place in spring 2016.

All documents are also available on Norfolk County Council's website at www.norfolk.gov.uk/nmwdf

Where possible the County Council would prefer representations to be made directly to www.norfolk.gov.uk/nmwdf

However responses by post, fax and email will also be accepted

All comments, in whatever form, should be made by 5pm on 21 December 2015.