Thorpe St Andrew town council clerk Steve Ford and town councillor Nigel Hancock at the old gravel pit on the Pinebanks site. Photo by Simon Finlay

A warning for developers of Pinebanks site in Thorpe St Andrew Norwich

Joe Wilkes Wednesday, January 18, 2012
9:44 AM

Developers are being warned that “rare geology” vital to research into climate change must not be disturbed if it goes ahead with plans for hundreds of new homes in Norwich.

Elvin Thurston says this site coudl tell us much about the future of climate change.

Natural England is warning developers planning to build more than 200 homes on the former Pinebanks sport and leisure site off Harvey Lane, Thorpe St Andrew.

The organisation, which advises the Government on the natural environment, fears the development could threaten to disturb the “rare geology’’ of a neighbouring gravel pit.

A spokesman for Natural England said: “The gravel pit is an important regional geological site. Our role is to make sure any rare geology is protected. If we think the development may damage this then we may object to it.

“We want it protected so future generations can benefit from the study of it and reveal more about the earth’s past.”

"Our role is to make sure any rare geology is protected. If we think the development may damage this then we may object to it."

Natural England spokesman.

Developers want to build 240 new homes on the three acre Pinebanks site which was bought by Berliet Ltd after the site closed in 2008 leaving many sports clubs without a home.

The site of the former gravel pit, which is to the west of Pinebanks and south of Hill Crest Road, is now covered by grass and flora and contains rock, gravel, sediment and pebbles beneath the surface dating from the Ice Age which could be significant in the study of climate change, according to local experts.

A spokesman for Ocubis Ltd. the site’s development managers for Berliet Ltd., said: “We are aware of this site’s importance and are consulting with all the relevant bodies ahead of our pre-application public consultation.

“We will be announcing the dates of the public exhibition shortly, this will be an ideal opportunity for the public to hear about the plan in its entirety.”

Public access to the former gravel pit may be improved if plans for the new homes are given go ahead and would be welcomed by some if the geological importance of the site can be protected.

Phil Courtier, head of planning at Broadland District Council, said: “It (former gravel pit) is clearly a very special site, if the developers open it up to public it could be a very good thing, as long as it doesn’t damage it.

“My understanding is that can be done. They seem very aware of how significant and important it is, I don’t think they ever intended to develop on that site, in fact it provides an opportunity to open it up and give local people greater access to a pleasing open space.”

Steven Ford, Thorpe St Andrew town council clerk, said: “The developers said they won’t develop on the gravel pit, but open it up to the public.

“Currently it is not officially open to the public. People go there and enjoy it but there is no legal walkway.

“Developers have no trouble with what Natural England say, if anything their plans would link the pits to the ancient woods and the public right of way that runs into School Lane.

“It will make a nice circular walk.”

Elvin Thurston, of the Geological Society of Norfolk, is a retired chemist and amateur geologist who has carried out studies on sites around Norfolk.

Mr Thurston, who lives on Lenthall Close, near the Pinebanks site, said: “It is all about understanding climate change in the past, to predict what will happen in the future.

“The orientation of pebbles tells you which direction the water was flowing and where the gravel and stones came from. A picture builds up, of what went on in the past.

“So we can use the site to predict the future of climate change, to workout a mathematical model to see how the climate did work, to predict what will happen.

“The sediment and pebbles found at the site and at places like Mousehold, were deposited by glacial meltwater.

“That is, when ice was melting as temperature changed, you got a lot of water moving, so you got a lot of sand and gravel, running with the water.

“Glaciers would move. Studying the site would answer a question which is big for geologists, of whether the particular glacier was advancing or retreating, and exactly which glacier it was, as the Ice Age had multiple stages.

“Some of the specimens are probably 450,000 years old. This is the only study site left, not that we are against development, but any development would have to take this into account.”

Latest News

5 comments

It is amazing how a report of an interview can get mangled before it appears in a newspaper! The reporter can have a problem understanding what an interviewee tells him about a specialist subject, and then the sub-editor has to make it fit the space available! In this case the pit concerned is east of the proposed development site not west and it is just south of Hill Crest Road. I should also say that working out how the ice sheet melted, whether it was advancing or retreating, and from which direction it was flowing is much more than observing the orientation of pebbles; other factors are observation of the direction of current bedding and the provenance of the minerals therein including the microscopic scale. For instance in this particular case the origin of the ice could have been the Penines or Scotland, or even, according to some experts, Norway. Incidentally local geologist are always loking for new exposures of what is beneath our feet. If any reader sees a significant new hole being made in theground we would love to be able to look at it! Then there are some experts who have found evidence that at this particular site these sands are not all derived from melting ice sheets, but have not yet been able to explain what they have found. Incidentally geologists are trained to disturb a site as little as possible and to leave it as they found it, protecting the wild life. Elvin Thurston, B.Sc.,Dip.Earth Sci. (Open)

Report this comment

Elvin Thurston

Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Yes but can you imagine the furore when the Eveninge Newse first carried the story of Norfolke Countie Councille granting a gravel pit license that led to what many at the time would have branded an affront to all that is good, healthy and democratic? Conversely picture the scene if you will... the year is 3012 and plans by developers to construct a space port at Saddlebow in King's Lynn are threatened with NIMBYs wanting to preserve the archaeological integrity of an ancient incineration site which could provide valuable insights into the plastic disposal habits of our 21st century ancestors...

Report this comment

I ronnie

Thursday, January 19, 2012
It's difficult to understand how bookworm can argue for a housing developer over the opinions of somebody seeking to retain a beautiful piece of natural habitat. At least the comment is so blatantly banal that it removes it from the realms of intelligent discussion. Well done Mr Thurston, it's only through individuals like this taking a stand for their community that we can mount any form of opposition to large corporations storming ahead in the pursuit of quick financial gains.

Report this comment

king123

Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Where exactly is the gravel pit 'west of Pinebanks and south of Hill Crest Road' ? I know for sure there is a gravel pit east of Pinebanks and south of Hill Crest road, a pit which Broadland district council and others refer to as a 'chalk and gravel pit'. I spent everyday of my childhood playing in that pit and never came home covered in chalk ! I also have photos clearly showing gravel but no chalk. Before it was a pit it was a field, which I played on, I also collected fossils from this pit. As far as I know there was a right of way from north to south through the pit, another diagonally from Hill Crest road towards 'High House' the latter was 'moved' when houses were built on Hill Crest road, that right of way then went south part way with the existing right of way until it reached the pit then it went east to 'High House'. Isincerely hope the pit remains undisturbed by any development, allowing trees, plants, birds, butterflies, moths, deer and all other creatures to live.

Report this comment

Stop Press

Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Chemist, not pharmacist.

Report this comment

Thoreauwasright

Wednesday, January 18, 2012