We would also like to thank Rupert Lowe – Great Yarmouth MP, for all his continued support in opposing the ongoing loss of our farmland.

This is prime, Grade 1 agricultural land owned by Norfolk County Council, and we firmly believe it should remain as such. However, despite claiming to oppose the destruction of farmland, the Reform administration at NCC appears determined to press ahead with this development through Repton, Norfolk County Council’s development and property arm. In our view, this prioritises financial returns over residents’ wishes and disregards the serious concerns about whether local infrastructure can cope with 446 additional homes, and an estimated 800 to 1,500 new residents.

We have made every effort behind closed doors to persuade the administration to stop the development. Those efforts have been rebuffed, with the Reform cabinet member responsible for Repton arguing that residents are being done a favour, by having Repton as the developer rather than a company such as Persimmon.

As many people will know, we opposed the proposal at Great Yarmouth Borough Council‘s development planning meeting in May. We raised serious concerns about the cumulative impact of the development, including:

• Insufficient healthcare provision, with residents already struggling to secure appointments with doctors and dentists.

• Limited school capacity to accommodate additional pupils.

• The ability of Links Road to cope with substantially increased traffic.

• Inadequate sewage infrastructure, including restrictions imposed by Anglian Water because of capacity constraints, and the need to upgrade the Baker Street pumping station in Gorleston.

• Existing sewage spills, with the pumping station already having significantly exceeded its permitted spill count into the River Yare and the sea.

Despite these concerns, members of the planning committee voted to approve the development.

Following Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s issuance of the planning notice on 21st August, Cllr Wedon and I are now examining every legal option available to us, both within Norfolk County Council and through a our judicial review against GYBC.

The Reform administration may consider it acceptable to abandon its campaign commitments to oppose overdevelopment, but Restore Britain and Great Yarmouth First councillors stand by our promises.

We will fight this appalling development through every lawful avenue available to us