Representation by Tim Malim
- Date submitted
- 17 March 2022
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I wish to register concern over the degree of harm that would occur to a heritage asset from the proposed development. The Icknield Way is a very ancient route that connected East Anglia with the south-west, following the oolitic limestone and chalk downlands through Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Somerset. As a major arterial prehistoric routeway across the country, the Icknield Way (in some counties referred to as The Ridgeway) was a zone of travel rather than a specific road, but its significance as a heritage asset is extremely high. It was regraded as one of the ancient highways of England, and used not only by prehistoric people, but also by successive Anglo-Saxon armies as a "herepath", a road along which armies moved rapidly. Great linear earthworks such as Black Ditch and Devils Ditch in Suffolk, and Devils Ditch, Fleam Dyke, Brent Ditch and Bran Ditch in Cambridgeshire, were built across the line of the Icknield Way to control movement through this zone. Parts of the route have become fossilised and constrained into green lanes and bridleways, such as the straight course that runs between two parts of the proposed solar farm as it heads towards Freckenham and Badlingham. Although it is understandable that cabling and works traffic would need to cross the line of the Icknield Way, it is unreasonable to close this historic thoroughfare for many months, and to suggest excavating long trenches along it to lay cables in. The applicant should be asked to redesign the scheme so that harm to a non designated heritage asset such as the Icknield Way is minimised. This would then comply with the relevant parts of the NPPF which aims to conserve and enhance the historic environment. Our historic landscape is crossed by many rights of way which often are of great antiquity, and the reason for their existence is intrinsic to an understanding of how that landscape developed over time. To lose parts of such ancient assets through an unnecessary degree of disturbance, and close or divert their course without significant reasons of public safety, would disregard the principles of the NPPF which seeks to safeguard heritage assets so they can be understood, appreciated and experienced in their setting.