South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon brings Diss Express readers up to date with some of his recent work in the community.
Last week I chaired a meeting about future development at the east end of Frenze Hall Lane, Diss. Representatives came from Persimmon Homes, Diss Town Council, South Norfolk Council, and the County’s highways department.
Persimmon owns land just south of Frenze Hall Lane which it bought after outline permission for residential use had already been granted. Ideally the Town Council would like Persimmon to allow the option of linking up Vinces Road through to Frenze Hall Lane at some time in the future, to ease pressure on Victoria Road. A second problem is that draft plans show a second full access to Persimmon’s site through Sycamore Way, increasing traffic flows past a children’s play area.
Persimmon say linking through to Vinces Road would make the site unviable. However, due to an agreement with planners, developer money could be used to improve the junction of Vinces Road with Victoria Road. Persimmon has also agreed to restrict the link through Sycamore Way to pedestrians, cyclists and emergency vehicles only, which is a significant improvement.
Breakfast with farmers at Goodies Farm Shop
I met farmers from across East Anglia for a working breakfast at Goodies Farm Shop to discuss the growing crisis in the pig industry. Pig farmers do not get subsidies from the taxpayer but have stood on their own feet, unlike many agricultural sectors.
That does mean facing the full force of changes in world markets, and grain prices have never been higher. This is great news for grain farmers but it also makes animal feed extremely expensive.
There are things we can do. Imported pork is still produced overseas using animal welfare standards which would be unlawful here, so consumers can help a great deal by avoiding foreign meat products. I have once again introduced a Food Labelling Bill into the House of Commons to help consumers know where meat comes from. I will also be contacting each of the major supermarkets to ask them what steps they are taking to support British farmers.
Long Stratton Bypass
I met Long Stratton Parish Council to discuss the A140 by pass for Long Stratton. There was actually planning permission for a bypass some while ago but the last government never came up with the money.
The planning permission has now lapsed and the coalition government is digging us out of a big financial hole. We have been printing money and lending it to ourselves to pay the wages for nurses, doctors and teachers. It is quite unrealistic to think the government will magic up the cash for a bypass.
The only possibility is a bypass funded by development. Last time there was this chance the council voted against, ending up with extra houses but no bypass. I hope we don’t make that mistake again.
4 February 2011
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