Each year in Norfolk, around 3 million tons of minerals are extracted for use in the construction and manufacturing industries nationwide. These minerals take the form of sand and gravel, extracted from vast pits and quarries all throughout the county, but particularly in the western region. The pits and quarries form huge scars on the landscape, which never really heal.

The government have issued Norfolk County Council with instructions to provide this 3 million tons of aggregate every year, and it falls to the regional government to source and allocate sites suitable for this extraction. This in turn gets passed on to land owners who can take the opportunity to propose their land as a potential extraction site if they feel it contains suitable quantities of the required minerals.

At this time, a total of 104 sites have been proposed across Norfolk, of which Pentney is one. From this list, it's estimated that around 30 to 40 sites will be required, although this figure certainly isn't set in stone - if you'll excuse the pun.
To break down the list of 104 sites a little further, 71 are proposed allocations and 33 are proposed areas of search. An allocation is a site where surveys have already been carried out and documenary evidence exists for the amount of minerals available, while a proposed area is a site where a survey hasn't yet been carried out.

The status of the site which threatens our village (MIN-93) is an allocation. This means a survey has been carried out, and evidence has been provided to show the quantity of minerals available, proving the site is indeed a viable option for mineral extraction.

The Pentney (MIN-93) site has been proposed by Savills as agents acting on behalf of Mr and Mrs Cunnington of Church Farm. The site falls into two distinct units. The land to west of Bilney Road which is open arable land and the land to the east which comprises a mix of pony paddock, back land, arable land and a plot dedicated to green burial. Examination of the proposed site map would suggest that a number of private residences are going to be swallowed up by the quarry, and the site adjoins and runs alongside Back Road, the church yard and the boundaries of several other private properties.
The map also suggests that the site will engulf the sewage treatment plant that serves both Pentney and West Bilney, and that the excavation will extend into an area designated as an Environment Agency flood zone.


So what does this mean to the village?
Well, of course there will be massive upheaval, and wholesale destruction of the peace and serenity that we all enjoy. We will see a massive increase in the amount of heavy machinery and lorries rolling through the village, and this will naturally make the village a more dangerous place for children who at the moment can play on these roads in relative safety.
We're likely to see a lot of subsidance in the land surrounding the excavations, causing roads and buildings (including listed buildings) to slip and suffer structural damage. Again, the presence of the excavation will present a danger of falling and injury to children who would otherwise play safely in the area.
Heavy industry always produces noise, and lots of it. Drilling, cutting, digging crushing and blasting will create a constant background cacophony.
Alongside this concern, consider what happens when you dig a hole in an area liable to flooding. It doesn't take a genius to work out that the water will flow into the hole, causing it to flood and fill up. To deal with this, pumping equipment will be required around the clock, and that will add a constant penetrating humming noise to the new and unwelcome soundtrack in our lives.
Floodlighting will turn Pentney into the land of the perpetual daytime. Gone will be our big star filled night-time skies, replaced by the grey-yellow glow of light polution.
And of course, alongside the noise and light polution, there will be the issues of traditional polution too. Airborne dirt and dust particles from the earthworks and fumes from the heavy machinery will leave the village permanently filthy and grimy.

Now is the time to stand united as a village.
We MUST fight this proposal. If we don't stand up and be counted, we risk losing the peacefull idyll that is Pentney, and we'll only have our own apathy to blame.