A quarry plan that would carve up some of Great Yarmouth borough's most popular countryside should fall at the first hurdle because of poor access for lorries, villagers say.

A quarry plan that would carve up some of Great Yarmouth borough's most popular countryside should fall at the first hurdle because of poor access for lorries, villagers say.

The proposal at Fritton, close to the A143 to Haddiscoe, is among 105 being considered by Norfolk County Council to help supply raw materials for a wave of house-building across the county.

Martin Robeson Planning Practice, on behalf of Newcombe Estates Company, is proposing a sand and gravel extraction pit on the 132.59-acre site, half of which lies within the Broads Authority area, which has a designation equivalent to a national park, and taking in a large swathe of privately-owned woodland.

And Breydon Water and Halvergate Marshes are within 2km of the site, most of which comprises woodland.

Parish councillor Keith Nunn said it was the access and road issues that bothered him most, with the prospect of lorries rumbling along narrow New Road, the main track to wildlife-rich Waveney Forest, a haven for dog owners and families.

He said: “It was mentioned at the parish meeting, but it seems from what we are told that there are 104 other sites being considered. The chairman seemed to think that it was realistically unlikely that they would want to pursue one up New Road. We are going to be allowed our say at some juncture.”

A county council spokesman said: “It is very early days. Nothing has been checked out or put forward as a suggested option. It is just a case of: 'These are the expressions of interest that we have had: what does everybody think about them?'”

A council summary states: “The majority of the site comprises wood-land, split between a larger area of conifer plantation, with remnant areas of heath on the higher ground and broadleaf woodland on the valley floor. An area of marshland/

reedbed along the river edge is included within the site area.” It adds: “The woodland itself is open to public access and a number of trails run through it.”

The consultation period has been extended by four weeks to April 25 give people more time for a say.

If the site were to be included on the list of suitable mineral extraction sites, planning consent would need to be given before any work could start.

At the borough council, head of planning Peter Warner said the corporate management board had been asked to look at the Fritton proposal and two potential waste sites on the Harfreys Estate and was advising refusal for all three.

You can view all the documents on the county council website at www.norfolk.gov.uk/nmwdf

You can email responses to ldf@norfolk.gov.uk or write to: Planning Services, Norfolk County Council, County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich, NR1 2SG.