Oxborough fishing lakes plan backed

A businessman who is also an environmental champion for Norfolk has won permission to create two commercial fishing lakes and a wildlife pond.Approval granted to Ian Monson, Norfolk County Council's environ-ment portfolio holder, has come after revisions to an earlier plan which planning officers ruled would cause too much damage to the environ-ment.

A businessman who is also an environmental champion for Norfolk has won permission to create two commercial fishing lakes and a wildlife pond.

Approval granted to Ian Monson, Norfolk County Council's environ-ment portfolio holder, has come after revisions to an earlier plan which planning officers ruled would cause too much damage to the environ-ment.

The original plan for a site at Church Farm, Oxborough, near Swaffham, was for two fishing lakes, two wildlife ponds, car parking, an entrance with paths around the site and landscaping. It prompted concern from the county council and wildlife organisations.

The new plan approved by Breckland Council includes only one wildlife pond instead of two, a different access point, and technical reports including an ecology survey, breeding bird statement and a flood risk assessment.

Senior development control officer Mike Brennan said: “The previous scheme faced objections over the bio-diversity.

“But the applicant has taken on board what we said, gone away and carried out a lot of consultations, amended the plans, and now there is little objection.”

Five letters of objection had been received by Breckland's development control committee over safety of otters living nearby, the ecological impact on the land and the archaeological value of the site.

Yesterday councillors gave the scheme the green light providing Mr Monson submits an ecological management plan, construction method plan, uses otter fencing, restricts parking to certain areas and carries out development as stated in the reports.