Meeting on Saturday 12 April, 6.45pm, Old School Hall, East Harling

Well over 150 people attended this meeting - the hall was filled and there was standing room only!

Chairman

Adam Hayes

Panel

Philip Edge - EH PC Chairman
Mike Welton - Bridgham PC Chairman
John Baskerville - County Councillor
Mark Dickenson - Bridgham PC member
Liz Moule - EH PC member
Cynthia Hustler - EH PC member
Roy Kemp - Breckland councillor

Apologies from Kay Fisher (Breckland Councillor) and Ian Lonsdale.

Noted contribution from Rosemary Hensby in organising the meeting.

Current Status

Recap - NCC have put forward over 100 potential sites for mineral extraction.  The sites were suggested by their respective landowners.  The consultation process is in addition to the normal planning procedure, and in advance of it.  The NCC is expected to choose some sites for development; after that the normal planning procedure will start.

The local site at West Harling has been withdrawn.  It is not know whether its owner (the Forestry Commission) or the NCC withdrew the application.  Also, the site at Hockham has been withdrawn, possibly because of the strength of opposition from the Hockham community.

Consultation period for the Bridgham site has apparently been extended to 25 April.

Response from East Harling and Bridgham

Noted that the Bridgham site represents as much of a threat to East Harling as it does to Bridgham; thus the two Parish Councils will work together to present a co-ordinated response.

Sample letters of objection provided for all at meeting to sign and post.

Summary of objections by Breckland Council read to the meeting.

Forms available so that anybody wishing to help could submit their details and information as to how they might help.

Many comments from the meeting; these were noted by the panel.  These comments included:

• need for a co-ordinator (Mark Dickenson volunteered);
• perceived need to help those without internet access to complete objection letters;
• 2,500 postal responses already received by NCC (presumably covering all the county sites);
• there is suspicion that the future use of a worked out quarry in Bridgham will be for waste disposal;
• although the formal deadline for commenting on the need for minerals had passed it would be reasonable to challenge the need as part of opposition to the Bridgham site;
• an alternative site was suggested (in Bridgham parish, NW of A11 between road and railway) - being land commandeered by the army at the start of 2nd World War;
• dust and exhaust gases from machinery and lorries could impair health;
• need to alert expert or specialist groups such as CPRE, Natural England, etc., so they can mount their own campaigns;
• noted absence of press from the meeting, and general lack of comment in EDP.

Next public meeting 22 April (evening) East Harling Parish Annual Meeting; open to the public.