Owen Paterson - Flogging the Country to Death!

Developers can build on nature reserves - if they 'offset' the damage elsewhere, says Government review

Today marks one of the darkest days in the history of the UK, where our natural world is concerned. Owen Paterson has, in effect given the green light for bulldozers to demolish our most diverse and unique wildlife habitats throughout the country.
When something is classified as a nature reserve, you would imagine and hope that it has been recognised as an area of significant importance and will therefore be protected? However, under Mr. Paterson's upcoming schemes we could see these tranquil and unique areas destroyed, to make way for development.

He goes on to say that this is OK as long as the damage is "offset" by creating similar habitats elsewhere.
So, what I would like to know and I expect you are asking yourself the same question; "how is it possible to re-create habitats that have taken centuries to mature and become established?"
Has he given any thought to this at all and I now wonder if he even knows what the word mitigation means?

Some of our most vulnerable wildlife such as the dormouse, great crested newt, water vole and adder can not just be lifted from one area and dumped in a man made equivalent a few miles or so away.
If this man thinks that this is OK and even achievable then he has concreted the fact that he knows very little about our natural world and environment. As he is supposedly our Environment Secretary, surely this proves that he should be replaced immediately before he destroys our wild places.

It will not matter if the targeted reserves are 10 square miles or just 1 square mile, if the chosen area has ancient and unique habitats, these will not be replicated by man overnight and whatever unique wildlife is living within will be lost forever.
If the wildlife is moved to an already established site, this will upset the balance and will lead to the significant loss a of number of the species in question.
Wildlife mitigation should be taken very seriously, especially where vulnerable, fragile species and habitats are involved. Sadly this seems to be something our Environment Secretary is either overlooking or ignoring.

In the Forest of Dean, we are already seeing this on a massive scale, losing one of our most diverse areas to development.
Among other wildlife, Northern United is home to the following species...

Great Crested Newt
Adder
Dormouse
Greater Horseshoe Bat
Lesser Horseshoe Bat

Work has already begun at this site. EU protected bats have already been seen flying for their lives as heavy machinery smashed down the buildings in which they roosted and work is soon to begin on a spine road, paving the way for the entire area to be concreted over.

So don't think your areas are safe for one minuet, as baron land is nothing more than a money making opportunity in their eyes!

We must all stand together to protect our most precious wild places before it is too late.

Telegraph Article - HERE

NORTHERN UNITED

This sight, along with the wildlife will soon be lost forever!

Just some of the prime wildlife habitat, soon to be bulldozed to make way for a road!

EU Protected Great Crested Newts are Present at Northern United

Rob

Northern Development

For Nothern Arc Development....

Click Here

And Here

Rob

Northern Arc - Part 2

To follow on from my last post regarding the proposed development (Northern Arc) at the Northern United site near Steam Mills, I have given you some facts below as well as highlighting some of the reasons why I feel this site is unsuitable for development.
There are links at the bottom of the post if you wish to aire your views and support.
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Firstly, Northern United is the last remaining deep mine in the Forest of Dean and the surrounding area (proposed development site) is riddled with old mines and chambers. The area has been prone to flooding in the past and this, coupled with the unstable ground will cause major problems in the future due to subsidence and ground collapses.
I am not an expert on mining like my father, so I will not elaborate on this, but I come from a mining family with my father working all the pits throughout the Forest of Dean when he was young (Northern United included). My grandfather also worked the mines and my great grandfather lost a leg in a Forest pit at the age of 15!

The Northern United pit buildings, including bath house are an eyesore, but why are they an eyesore? They have been left derelict, with the surrounding area fenced off to the general public and this area is now overgrown with brambles etc. This is the reason it is an eyesore, but this site should not have been earmarked for demolition because of our unwillingness to preserve it.
The news that these buildings are to be demolished to make way for a road is very unsettling as it is of the utmost importance that these buildings are kept intact and restored so that the young people of today understand and realise the struggles that their ancestors went through to put bread on the table. Of course we must move forward, but at what cost? We must “never” forget our past as it is this history, which made us and our communities what they are today.
As you are aware, the Forest of Dean was formally a Royal Hunting ground and it is steeped in history, heritage and culture, all of which is now under threat.

The Forest of Dean is a very special place for local people and visitors alike. This is why we fought so hard to save our forest; our biggest asset, from the threat of commercialisation and development. However, we are now facing another threat called the Northern Quarter Area Action Plan or (Northern Arc Project), which will undermine all of the hard work and see hundreds of acres of woodland and unique habitats destroyed. Many local council leaders apposed the sale of our forest and fought hard, along with the community to safeguard our most valuable asset, yet today these same people are the ones pushing forward with plans to destroy it!

Phase one of the Cinderford Northern Quarter Area Action Plan or (Northern Arc Project) will see a Spine Road slicing through the heart of the forest. The proposed road is to be street fronted with built development along the majority of its length and if implemented, the road will isolate a large proportion of the forest for future development. More than 1,000 new homes are planned to be built over the next 10 years. It will mean the loss of many historic oak trees planted under the instructions of Lord Nelson, as well as other hard wood trees and unique, ancient habitats.

Phase two will see a hotel, 175 residential houses and offices being built along the main Spine Road.

Phase three will see more residential housing and offices built around an idyllic lake, which supports a massive variety of wildlife, including very rare endangered species like the otter, water vole and great crested newt.

With the shortage of work in the area I can not see the logic in erecting over 1,000 new homes, as we will then see a massive explosion of people requiring employment in the area. The potential initial increase of 300 to 400 cars will then build up to around 1,500 to 2,000 in an area that’s road infrastructure can hardly cope now and it will be an environmental nightmare.
The main build area consists of open land as well as unique habitats, which supports a wide variety of endangered species. Of these wildlife species many are on the Red List for protection and the area has been surveyed by professionals. During the surveys, all endangered species except one were found, yet the plans are still being pushed through, why?

To see a list of the endangered species present at this site, see my previous post.

I am "NOT" against plans to regenerate Cinderford and I applaud the hard work put in by the many who have visioned this. However, Northern United, with its history, wildlife and unique habitats is probably the worst place they could have picked.
To some it may look like an eyesore, but that all depends how you are looking upon it. For me and I know I speak for many, this site is not ugly, it is undisturbed and this is what our wildlife requires today. A place where they feel safe.

Doesn't anyone give a damn about our wildlife anymore? Why do we have to keep fighting to save it from the clowns with blinkers on?

Some links for you, if you wish to help save this site. Please help or one day it may be too late when our forest is covered with tarmac and concrete!

Woodwatch

Save Our Forests

I also advise all to write to the Forest of Dean District Council, MP Mark Harper and David Cameron to raise your concerns and appose these plans.

Will keep you updated.

Rob

Cinderford Northern Arc Development = Disaster for Wildlife!

This is of great importance to all local people and also to those who care for our habitats and wildlife. I advise you to read carefully and do whatever you can to help.

When you read or hear the name Ark, what do you think of? Maybe a guy called Noah who helped save all living creatures of this planet.
Well there is another Ark on its way, but this time it is not coming to save and protect; instead it is coming to disturb and destroy!

If the Cinderford Northern Arc Project gets the green light its footprint will cause unimaginable, untold damage to the proposed area at Steam Mills, near Cinderford. An area that supports key habitat to many endangered species, including Red List species.
I have personally seen many of the very rare and endangered species at this site and the few, which I haven't seen have been recorded by trusted sources, like the Forest Green Team who recorded an otter as far back as 2007.
Due to (c) laws, I can not show you a photograph I obtained from the FoDDC, detailing the vast area that is to be developed. However, I can tell you that it is massive and will see a road cutting right through the forest and it will also see an area that is rich in undisturbed wildlife destroyed!
I can give you the location on Google Maps - Click Here


The main development site around Steam Mills Lake supports a varied and healthy abundance of rare wildlife and I can't think of another site throughout the Forest of Dean, which is richer in varied wildlife.
Some of the wildlife in this area is on the Red List for protection and the majority of these species "HAVE" been recorded during area surveys; authorised and carried out by professionals for the Regeneration Board.

To name just a few, this site supports....

Lesser Horseshoe Bat
Greater Horseshoe Bat
Great Crested Newt
Adder
Hawfinch
Otter
Doormouse
Water Vole

One species named above, which was not recorded in the surveys is the Hawfinch. This bird is so rare and endangered in the UK that only 5,000 breeding pairs are present throughout the whole country. This bird is on the Red List and its conservation Status is as follows.

• Globally threatened
• Historical population decline in UK during 1800–1995
• Severe (at least 50%) decline in UK breeding population over last 25 years, or longer-term period (the entire period used for assessments since the first BoCC review, starting in 1969).
• Severe (at least 50%) contraction of UK breeding range over last 25 years, or the longer-term period

The Hawfinch has been ringed at this site for many years and the Forestry Commission are aware of this, so I can't see how this has been overlooked.
With rare bats, birds, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and insects present at this site; I am stunned that they are still going ahead with their plans to bulldoze right through the middle of it!
The area is also very popular with fishermen and dog walkers; all of whom will lose the area if these plans go ahead.

To see a full list of identified wildlife species found during the surveys click below.
Click here for the results from the Field Survey

The "Spine Road" will cut through the forest leaving a part of the forest isolated between the Spine Road and Steam Mills/Hawkwell. I have asked the question "what guarantees do we have that this isolated woodland "will not" also be developed in the years to come?"
I didn't get a reply to that one!

Encroachment will see even more habitats and wildlife suffer and where will it stop?

I agree that Cinderford requires regeneration as it is staring to become a ghost town, but I can't see how developing an area so far out of the actual town will help. Maybe they should look at the "actual town" and inject some much needed revenue there before creating another "Mini-Cinderford" on the outskirts.

I sincerely hope that this isn't happening so that certain people can retire and leave their legacy behind. One legacy, which would be appreciated and which would always be recognised, is if this area along with the rest of our most valuable asset was protected and preserved.
I know which one I would want to be remembered for!

Some links below.

Cinderford Area Action Plan - Evidence Base

Take a look at the photograph on the front of THIS REPORT. It may not look like this for very much longer!

A Recent Article - HERE


(Just something personal from me)

It wasn't very long ago that the HooF campaign fought to save OUR forests and yet this seems to be the exact thing they were trying to prevent. I wonder why this seems to have been accepted? Lets face it, if other areas are encroached upon like this, throughout the Forest of Dean area, then the fight to safeguard our forest will have been for nothing!

Why not turn this area into a nature reserve as this will help bring tourists into the area. People do not visit the Forest of Dean just to stay in a hotel, they visit to walk our forest and to hopefully see the wildlife therein. The Forest is our most valuable asset.

Rob