Planning Issues
The Avon Wildlife Trust devotes considerable resources to monitoring and responding to planning applications that we believe threaten wildlife in our area. We monitor weekly lists of planning applications from the four unitary authorities in Avon but we also rely on members and volunteers to help us identify potential threats.
Can you help to save Radstock Railway Sidings?
You may already be familiar with this important wildlife site and the proposals that are being drawn up for its development. The Wildlife Trust has been very concerned for a long time about the potential for wildlife loss due to development and, despite being involved in the consultation process for the drawing up of the proposals, these concerns remain.
A unique assemblage of plants and animals has been recorded. There are three nationally scarce plants, including the Red Data Book listed fine leaved sandwort (Minuartia hybrida) and bithynian vetch (Vicia bithynica). Fine-leaved sandwort is not known anywhere else in the old Avon area. Twenty one nationally important invertebrates have been recorded, of which twelve are Red Data Book species and the remaining fifteen are nationally scarce. In fact, the site is considered to be of national significance for its invertebrate communities and comes close to warranting designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It has already been approved for local designation by Bath and North East Somerset Council as a Site of Nature Conservation Importance. In addition there are birds, badgers, bats and reptiles, the latter being particularly well represented.
Norton Radstock Regeneration Company has drawn up proposals for a mixed development consisting of housing, community space and green space. The proposals include 210 houses, which the Trust and local wildlife experts, Cam Valley Wildlife Group (CVWG), believe will be extremely detrimental. In fact, ecologists advising the company some years ago recommended that no more than 20% of the site could be developed without severe damage to the wildlife interest. These concerns were expressed by CVWG at the Public Inquiry into the Local Plan and in May this year the government inspector recommended that no more than 50 houses be built, to avoid damage to the wildlife.
Interestingly, thanks to a CVWG initiative, people were given the opportunity to vote for a local referendum on the subject. Last week, about 80 people voted almost unanimously in favour! The referendum will be held in September or October. The priority now is to encourage people to use this vehicle of local democracy.
How do I help?
So, obtaining signatures while at the same time reminding people about the referendum, and also doing some leafleting, is what we need your help with. If you can help, please contact Deborah Porter of CVWG on 01761 435563 or email her on deborah_whitelands@tiscali.co.uk
You can sign the online petition below or to download and print off a petition form in PDF format, please click here
If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Hengrove Park, Bristol (Grid Ref: ST591685)
We are continuing to object to the proposed loss of the north-east corner and will be presenting a statement to the Planning Office on 29 June 2005. Following further discussions with Arup and BCC we are also making clear our objection to proposed alterations to the Bowl, such as a cut through the eastern bank into the rest of the site.
To find out more about the campaign, please contact Mary Wood on 0117 917 7270
There are more details about the wildlife interest of the site here.
For the bigger issues we give more detailed information about the proposed development and our concerns: at the moment the proposed development at Hengrove Park
If you are concerned about any of these cases or have information about proposed developments not mentioned here please email us.