What is R.A.I.D.?
R.A.I.D. is a group formed from people living in the streets around the Hewett School in Norwich. We are objecting to plans to sell off a large part of the Hewett School playing fields, to developers whose proposals we believe to be inappropriate to this area.
R.A.I.D. is greatly concerned that local residents affected by this proposed development have been denied sufficient opportunity to voice their concerns and influence the planning process. We are also concerned that avenues of assistance have been closed to us, in that our local Liberal Democrat councillors and our MP, Charles Clarke, support the sell-off of the playing fields.
R.A.I.D. has distributed some 1,400 leaflets alerting residents in this area to our concerns.
What are the proposals to which we are objecting?
The proposals are to sell approximately 25% of the playing fields, and to build on the site
n A luxury sports club
n A private nursery school
n A private nursing home
n A car park for at least 240 cars.
The developers were a consortium representing
n David Lloyd Leisure Sports and Fitness Club
n Teddies Nursery (BUPA Homes) (since withdrawn)
n Westminster Health Nursing Home (since withdrawn - the proposed facilities would be run by BUPA).
In return, the Hewett School will apparently receive money to build a new sports hall on its site and some limited access to the commercial facilities.
Linked to this application is a separate planning application for proposed development by Norfolk County Council of a school sports hall (Planning Application ref: P/Y/4/2004/4001).
We wish to put clearly on record that we support the Hewett School’s plans for a new sports hall if this can be achieved without loss of urban green space and inappropriate development. We have read the educational case put forward by the governors for a new sports hall and we have examined the plans for this school’s sports hall.
Why are we objecting?
n Contrary to government policy
These proposals are contrary to the Government's policy of not selling school playing fields (except in very special circumstances), and to all local development plans.
n Wrong for this area
We also believe that they are wholly inappropriate for this area, as the proposed facilities would charge extremely high fees, which are completely out of reach of the majority of residents here. The only people likely to use these facilities, therefore, would be from outside the immediate area, and would need to drive here.
n Traffic increases
This would increase traffic congestion in our area, which already suffers badly from congestion, gridlock, and "rat-running". It would also lead to increased pollution.
n Disturbance for local residents
The opening hours of the proposed sports centre would be from 6.30 in the morning to 11.00 at night. The traffic caused during these early and late hours would cause additional disturbance.
n Loss of rare green space
This area has very little green space, and we are keen to keep what little is left. A playing field represents a valuable "green lung". The playing fields are also used by our local wildlife, and we object to the loss of wildlife habitats.
n Light pollution
The proposals will include flood lighting for long hours. This would be a nuisance to local residents and cause great disturbance to our wildlife.
History of planning proposals and earlier objections
Please click here to learn more about the story of these proposals, how they have been changed, and about other objections to them.
Possible charges for use of the new facilities
It seems more than likely that the fees for the proposed facilities would be so high that local people would largely be unable to afford them. We have tried to find the types of fees that would be charged. This had been complicated by the fact that some of the original members of the consortium have withdrawn, and by the fact that fees do vary in different areas anyway - but we have found these examples.
n Leisure Centre membership fees for a couple: £135 joining fee and £100.50 monthly subscription (£1,341 per annum).
n Nursing home charges: £555 per week to £665 per week.
n Nursery school fees: £672.92 per month to £629.17 per month.
Click here to find out how we calculated these fees, and to see more about the lack of need for these facilities, and click here to learn more about David Lloyd Leisure Centre fees.
IMPORTANT NEWS - planning enquiry
A date has been set for the planning enquiry. It is Tuesday, 25 October 2005. The enquiry is scheduled to last four days, but may well last longer.
Click here to go to a page of information from the Planning Inspectorate's web page, explaining the procedures for a local public enquiry.
Click here to see a copy of the letter we received, and the information about the inquiry that it included.
See information about sports facilities that we already have
Click here to learn more about the provisions that already exist in our area, for tennis as well as other sports.
See letters and documents
Click here to see various letters and documents we have sent and received, including our own Statement of Case
LINKS
n Ofsted report on the Hewett School (You need Adobe Acrobat to view this)
n Article in the Daily Telegraph
n Articles from the Norwich Evening News
n Eastern Daily Press article 16 July 2005
CONTACT US
R.A.I.D.
c/o Keith Farwell
7 Cecil Road
Norwich
NR1 2QL