Category: Environmental issues

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Giant Hogweed returns to the Valley

A YVS member has reported the return of Giant Hogweed to the Valley. As last year, it was spotted near the Cringleford/Eaton Flyover. The Sap can cause severe skin burns and can pose a serious risk to people unaware of its harmful nature. See the news for May 2018 for more information and pictures.

The Norwich Fringe Project is aware of the presence of Giant Hogweed in the Valley, and has passed information on to the department in Norwich City Council that deals with the invasive species and dangerous plants. Treatment should follow, but in the meantime take care.

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New Planning Application for UEA/Rugby Club Car Park

A new Planning Application (Reference 2019/0521) has been submitted to South Norfolk District Council for the expansion of the UEA Sports Field Car Park adjacent to Colney Lane. Permissions have already been obtained for the expansion of the car park. These  relate to the UEA Rugby Club development; but there are some significant differences between the latest application, and the previous permissions.

The search page for the application is here , insert the reference 2019/0521.

The Yare Valley Society has a number of concerns about the new application:

1. The impermeable surface proposed for the extra parking spaces will result in increased water run-off

2. Proposals for new lighting, and the impact of resulting light pollution on wildlife

3. The grossly inadequate arrangements for cyclists attempting to negotiate the proposed entrance to the car park. This is on the Norwich Pink Pedalway – a key commuting route to the Hospital and Research Park.

The Yare Valley Society has made formal objection to the proposals.

Please have a look at the proposals and send in your own comments. 

 

 

 

 

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Three new threats to the Valley: 14th December Deadline

Greater Norwich Local Plan Consultations

Three new development sites that impact on the Yare Valley Green Space have been added to the list of sites already consulted upon.

The new consultation that includes the three sites will close at 5 pm on Friday 14th December.

YVS ask all concerned about the future of the Valley to respond without delay to the consultation.

To make responding easier, the details for the three sites are collected in a single document to download here.

Please write in to say how important the Yare Valley green space is to you, for informal recreation, for the protection of wildlife, for the well-being of our community, and that you support the policies that seek to protect our green space.

DETAILS OF THE SITES

Open the downloaded document of the sites. Enable editing.

Click on the blue sphere for a map of the site (perhaps press “Ctrl” and Click – “Ctrl” is usually at bottom left on keyboard).

Click on the tiny red pdf symbol to the right of the blue sphere to get details of the site application.

WAYS OF RESPONDING

  1. Online: Click on the writing pencil. You will be asked to register and/or log in. Proceed as directed to make your comment.
  2. By email: Email your comments to gnlp@norfolk.gov.uk. Remember to quote the site reference number.
  3. By letter: Remember to quote the site reference number. Send to GNLP Consultation, County Hall, Martineau Ln, Norwich NR1 2DG

The GNLP team would prefer you use method 1. or 2., but they do not wish anyone to be deterred from responding. For further help on responding ring 01603 306603.

MORE INFORMATION

The GNLP consultation site is at http://www.gnlp.org.uk/.

For more information about Planning Policies relevant to the Valley go to Planning. 

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Local Residents put finishing touches to Bridge of Dreams

Eaton Village Residents Association working with the Norwich Fringe Project have planted trees on the river banks at the approaches to the new bridge, and fenced off a culvert on the approach path. Their efforts will ensure the greenery will soon reclaim the river banks with renewed vigour. Peace and tranquillity will return to the river and we can all pause on the bridge and dream. Follow the links to find out more.

Norwich Fringe Project is always pleased to hear from people wishing to volunteer to help maintain and improve the green space around Norwich.

Protecting the riverbank planting
Whips go in on the bank
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YVS and local Parishes join in protest

YVS and Colney and Cringleford Parishes have written a joint letter to South Norfolk District Council Planning Department expressing their concern that UEA has failed to address important issues raised by objectors to UEA’s most recent Rugby Cub planning application (2018/1830).

An email dated 26th September 2018 from the UEA’s Agent claims to respond to objections, but instead ignores any reference to many of the legitimate planning concerns that the objectors, including the CPRE, have raised.

A major concern (amongst several) is that car parking spaces are built within the Yare Valley protected green space for a Rugby Club facility that does not exist and may never exist. The text of the letter can be found here.

Go to our Planning page for more background information on this application.

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UEA seeks to change conditions on Rugby Club development

Planning Application 2018/1830

The UEA is applying to split the Rugby Club Sports Park Development Approval at Colney Lane into two phases, and to vary conditions 2, 3 ,4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23, 27, 28 and 31 from planning permission 2016/0233 placed upon the Development

Documents relating to the application can be found at South Norfolk Planning. Search under 2018/1830. It is best to start with the “Section 73 Application Statement” under the documents tab.

YVS is examining the proposals closely, and observations about the application will appear on the Planning Page in shortly.

The closing date for comments on the Application is 23 September 2018.

You will have a chance to discuss the application at our AGM on the 12 September, (see Home page). Please be there to make your views known and influence the YVS response.

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Uncertainty over Rugby Club Development at UEA

The Rugby Club has so far failed to conclude its negotiations with the developer of its current facilities at Beeston Hyrne. UEA admits in a current planning application with South Norfolk District Council (2018/1830) that the “Timescales regarding when the Rugby Club will be in a position to enter into a long lease are currently unknown”.

The UEA in its new planning application is seeking to split the development into two phases in an effort to secure permission for a Phase 1 which is for “additional parking for users of the sports area and nearby facilities on the NRP”. To achieve this, it is applying for a number of conditions placed upon the original application approval to be changed.

 What if the Rugby Club negotiations are not concluded successfully? What then is the future of Phase 2? Will a car park have been extended in a sensitive area for a facility that does not exist? Will safeguarding conditions have been by-passed?

See the news item above for accessing the application documents.

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Reporting dead fish

We have had a report of dead fish being seen in the river.

If you see any dead fish in the river, or notice any other environmental incident, please note the precise details of the incident and report it to the Environmental Agency using their 24 hour hotline 0800 80 70 60. Examples of the incidents the Environmental Agency want to know about are given at www.gov.uk/report-an-environmental-incident.