each of those articles (the pay to pollute scheme/catfield fen) are mental
examples of how perilous out natural habtats are and how crazy the system is set up. the public consultation window opened by Natural England and Defra is open right now, but it closes strictly at 9:29 am on Tuesday 27 October 2026.
So only a week left to make your voice heard peeps!
i'mma going to do an blummin' complainer:
here's the linky to where to submit a response if anyone else would like to help out:
User Posted Link
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Subject: Formal Objection: Draft Environmental Delivery Plan (EDP) – Nutrient Pollution – Norfolk
Dear Natural England Consultation Team,
I am writing to register my formal objection to the proposed draft Norfolk Environmental Delivery Plan (EDP) currently under consultation.
As a resident/concerned citizen, I believe this pilot scheme sets a deeply flawed and reckless precedent for the future protection of our most vulnerable ecosystems, specifically the River Wensum SAC, the Broads SAC, and the Broadland Ramsar site.
My objections focus on the following structural issues within the plan:
1. The Fallacy of Equivalence: The plan operates under the dangerous assumption that chemical and nutrient overloading (phosphates and nitrates) in our waterways can be "offset" by completely unrelated environmental measures, such as deer management or minor bank connectivity adjustments. Unrelated biological adjustments do not erase the ecological degradation caused by raw pollution entering the water table.
2. Underestimating Unprocessed Sewage: The mathematical modeling used to justify unlocking 15,780 new homes relies heavily on perfectly treated wastewater output. It entirely fails to account for the regular, catastrophic impact of storm overflows and untreated sewage discharges from an already overwhelmed and underinvested local water network.
3. Removal of Vital Planning Safeguards: By explicitly preventing local planning authorities from placing conditions on developers, such as delaying home occupancy until physical sewer system upgrades are complete, Natural England is removing the ultimate legal safeguard protecting our local environment.
4. Ignoring Judicial Precedent: The recent High Court ruling regarding Catfield Fen made it clear that Natural England has a statutory duty to act decisively to prevent habitat harm, rather than facilitating bureaucratic frameworks that manage and commodify decline. The proposed Nature Restoration Levy acts as a "pay-to-pollute" shortcut that directly contradicts the spirit of that legal mandate.
Our chalk streams and internationally recognized wetlands are irreplaceable. They should not be sacrificed on the altar of accelerated housing quotas. I urge Natural England to reject this current draft, reinstate strict nutrient neutrality boundaries, and ensure that infrastructure capability strictly precedes any new housing approvals.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Postcode / Address]
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Posted By: Tombs on October 20th 2026 at 21:26:52
Message Thread
- More Broads news (General Chat) - Old Git, Oct 20, 20:55:21
- each of those articles (the pay to pollute scheme/catfield fen) are mental (General Chat) - Tombs, Oct 20, 21:26:52
- Not too far from me (n/m) (General Chat) - Jumbo1, Oct 20, 21:21:46
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