Earlham Park is a wonderful park which expands to woodland areas, marshes and  is home to a great many species of birds and wildlife as well as members of public who enjoy the park. The UEA and sports park is also a great facility used by the community in Norwich and usually the UEA is leading the way in environmental development with a fine reputation across the globe. 

 However, until meeting a fellow park-goer on Sunday 28th February I had no idea that the UEA and rugby club intend to develop the area near to their rugby fields and completely re-contour the valley. It boasts to receive a large 40m long, two storey clubhouse with bar, a large, floodlit artificial pitch ( for Rugby??? How? ) edged with 3m high fencing. There is currently a pleasant cycle and pedestrian path leading from the UEA to Colney Lane they are planning to make this a two lane access road and carpark for 339 cars and two coaches, some on previous woodland and rough pasture. This added traffic will be horrendous for that area which already gets backlogged along Earlham Road at rush-hour. 

The current path is only one lane wide so trees would need to be removed to make room and it goes across the river. 

  This has been kept very quiet with very few people knowing about it which I also find highly dubious.  I don't argue that it would be a good facility for the community but not for the sake of this area of wildlife and not as a complete contradiction to the ethos of the UEA who claim to want to cut down on cars. It needs to be elsewhere. 

About one of their 'environmental science courses:

'Our fundamental and policy-relevant research informs the greatest societal challenge of the 21st century to balance human resource needs with the sustainability of our environment. '

So why can't they seem to understand that the proposals for this facility destroy the value of the site as a Green Infrastructure Corridor? They are more concerned with money for their sports centre than the long term effect it will have on local ecosystems and traffic.

The clubhouse will be prominent and close to the river.  

The high fence and pitches will destroy the landscape.        

The treelined pathway across the sports field will be torn up.                

The 'pink pedalway' that the government spent millions improving to encourage cyclists will be on-road and dangerous to use.                                                      

The site is liable to flooding which will effect buildings on its floodplain.    

This planning application goes against the UEA parking reduction policy. 

The floodlights at their football grounds are already very overbearing, not to mention the Norfolk and Norfolk Hospital lights and traffic as well as the new houses being built on the flood plain near Threescore which have also destroyed the landscape.

“Predators use light to hunt, and prey species use darkness as cover, near cities, cloudy skies are now hundreds, or even thousands of times brighter than they were 200 years ago. We are only beginning to learn what a drastic effect this has had on nocturnal ecology.”

'Glare from artificial lights can also impact wetland habitats that are home to amphibians such as frogs and toads, whose nighttime croaking is part of the breeding ritual. Artificial lights disrupt this nocturnal activity, interfering with reproduction and reducing populations.'

 How much more before the whole area gets slowly developed? 

 I'm sure Rugby players have been perfectly fine playing on grass for the last two hundred years. The deadline for objections to the South Norfolk Council is March 7th so we don't have long. Please encourage everyone concerned to protest and sign this petition to South Norfolk Council. Thanks for your support. 

Please sign or submit objections by March 7th. 

Their website is very hard to use but the details are

http://www.south-norfolk.gov.uk/haveyoursay/1035.asp or send reference 2016/2033 to Planning administration, South Norfolk Council, South Norfolk House, Cygnet Court, Long Stratton, Norwich NR15 2XE. 

http://www.south-norfolk.gov.uk/planning/media/Applications_2016-02-05.pdf ...............Application Number 8.