I disagree with the proposed allocation of houses on land south of the Hackford Road in Wicklewood. I support Wicklewood Parish Council's letter of objection about this. Still, I would like to add the following:

1. I reiterate one of the Parish Council's primary objections regarding losing the extensive views across this area. Statements have deliberately been removed from the Council's own original submission regarding the importance of retaining these extensive views across the countryside south of Hackford Road, Wicklewood. This is wrong. The Council does not have the right to remove previous statements from documents because they no longer suit its original thinking.
2. The site is on a junction that is a rat-run at certain times of the day. The access to the new site lies on The Green. The current proposal is to widen this narrow lane around the site entrance. But this will be inadequate. The extra traffic generated by another 40 dwellings will make the road dangerous for other road users and pedestrians.
3. This area is also an essential route for migrating toads during their breeding season when they return and then leave the ponds in this area. Their migration involves crossing roads, and many are killed by traffic as they do this. The toad breeding season spans February, March and early April, and the two hours from dusk onwards, particularly on dark and wet nights, are when the greatest toad activity occurs. During this period the Wicklewood toad wardens patrol The Green and the bottom end of Top Road to ensure the survival of toads crossing these lanes. These lanes are close to the proposed development. The extra traffic risk will further reduce an already declining toad population in this area and put the toad wardens, including myself, at risk.
4. A further consideration is that the proposed site is too close to the village school. Further traffic along the Hackford and Wymondham Roads will increase the risk of accidents, particularly on the school bend,
5. Extra housing will increase the potential of flooding, a problem that will only increase each year due to climate change.
6. Wicklwood already has 407 homes, and the infrastructure in the village and the surrounding area cannot support a further 10% increase in the village's population (or more if the buffer is adopted). The school is near capacity, and there is no village shop, meaning people must use their cars to shop.

I am not against further development in the village through in-fill, but I am totally against this site. If you allow these houses to be built on this land south of Hackford Road, you will open the floodgates to developers wishing to build houses right along this scenic area of open countryside.