Leave Belton Common alone!
That was the strong message sent out tonight by parish councillors who objected to plans to build a golf course on a popular wildlife site.
All members sitting on Belton and Browston Parish Council voiced their opposition to a land swap scheme by Bourne Leisure that may see a golf course built on the County Wildlife Site, which is used by dog walkers and nature lovers.
Before the vote there was a 30 minute public question and answer session with architect Simon Nicholas explaining the controversial planning bid to Great Yarmouth Borough Council.
He told the meeting, which was attended by at least 30 members of the public, that despite its name Belton Common was owned by Bourne Leisure and the public had no right of way on it.
He said: “It’s not common land.”
The golf course would become part of Caldecott Golf Course with another piece of land becoming a holiday site linked to Haven Wild Duck Holiday Park.
Tonight’s meeting heard that 75pc of the common would not be affected by the proposal.
However residents voiced their opposition to the loss of the land with one woman saying she had been using the common since 1960.
A petition with 229 names collected by Kye Rodriguez was also handed into the parish council.
Conservationist David Pye said the plan would destroy the common’s ecosystem.
The parish council passed a formal objection, which included traffic fears and concerns over loss of wild habitat.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here