Following on from the AGM a campaign was launched to alert Dereham townspeople to the SSPPD proposals and in particular the development of Cowper Road car park as retail space. An article was published in the Eastern Daily Press and the Dereham & Fakenham Times highlighting that adoption of retail status for Cowper Road car park would prevent its use as a bus station. We see this change of use, put through with minimal publicity and debate, as a critical move. Previously, Cowper Road had been recognised to be the best place to site a bus station. Directing bus traffic into Cowper Road would allow pedestrianisation of the Market Place and allow a number of options to be considered for the whole town centre. Without this option we shall be left with the prospect of a bus interchange funnelling a huge number of vehicles through the Market Place. Even this rather grim prospect is now stalled as the cuts programme has absorbed the money previously promised to Dereham.
The net result could be less car parking, more retail to compete with the charity shops and no resolution of the traffic problem through the Market Place.
In addition to the public articles a small group met to agree an online response to the Consultation document. The grounds for objecting to proposals in the SSPPD are very narrow according to criteria set by planning guidelines, but these views were put forward on behalf of the Society with regard to the Cowper Road car park. In addition to this we made comment on the three main Housing development proposals which are at:
- The Old Maltings, Norwich Road –180 units
- Windmill Avenue – 200 units
- Greenfield Road – 220 units
Our comments centred on the extra traffic this will generate on Norwich Road, in particular from Greenfield Road trying to turn right in the morning; the existing problems associated with flooding and sewage and on the need for Open Space allocations to be honoured in full. The development at Windmill Avenue will border Shillings Lane which connects Neatherd Moor and Etling Green. This has been identified by local councils as an important wildlife corridor running between two commons and offers a great circular walk route close to the Town. We stressed the need for this corridor to be a priority in the development plans and will continue to monitor proposals carefully.
Development at land adjacent to Pear Tree Cottage and Abbotts Field.
Previously plans for 10 houses have been refused but now an application has been lodged for four units. We feel the granting of permission for one house some years ago was sufficient and will object to any number above this.
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