Liz Coates A call for common sense to prevail in the fight to protect Fritton Woods has been made by Great Yarmouth's MP.Campaigners are battling to fend off a threat to stop the large area of woodland being earmarked for a quarry.

Liz Coates

A call for common sense to prevail in the fight to protect Fritton Woods has been made by Great Yarmouth's MP.

Campaigners are battling to fend off a threat to stop the large area of woodland being earmarked for a quarry.

And now Tony Wright has written to county officials voicing his concerns about the threat to the woods, also known as Waveney Forest, and the impact on country roads.

He stressed that early protest was essential to scotch the scheme, adding that probably all of Norfolk's aggregate needs could be extracted from the site, making it a possible contender among more than 100 other sites put forward by landowners.

He tagged the plan “absolutely appalling” adding: “Fritton Woods is an area of fantastic natural beauty that has been enjoyed by a variety of people for many years and I am surprised given the area's environmental and recreational credentials that it is even being considered. I will make my views clear to Norfolk County Council. I will not let them run away with this ridiculous idea.”

Allowing the scheme could mean thousands of aggregate-laden lorries rumbling along country roads which were never meant to take such heavy traffic, as well as ruining a nature haven brimming with life.

Four thousand people have already signed a petition to save the 326 acre site part of which lies within the Broads national park close to sites designated for their natural beauty.

Action group leader Rowland Dunne said the effect would be felt well beyond Fritton with villages like Belton, Haddiscoe and St Olaves likely to bear the brunt.

Mr Wright said he hoped common sense would prevail, describing the scheme as a non-starter. “It's absolutely ridiculous. I know they will come back and say its one of several sites in the area but we need to try and scotch this as soon as possible.”

Parish council chairman Keith Nunn said the campaign was gaining momentum. Around 4000 people had signed petitions on line and on paper and the pea stall on Great Yarmouth market had collected pages of signatures in a matter of minutes.

sign the online petition at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/fritton-woods.