The Lincolnshire Bird Club

I can't see many songbirds hanging about if a plan to build 100-plus houses on a meadow in Habrough gets the green light at a North East Lincolnshire Council planning meeting on Wednesday.

It is being recommended for approval by planning officers

Not at all impressed by the claim from the ecologist (who is in the pay of the developer/agent) that there are "no ecological objections" to the project subject to hedgerows being retained.

http://planninganddevelopment.nelincs.gov.uk/online-applications/files/0C1365BF02E3BD531EE5D31EA95645BE/pdf/DM_0950_15_OUT-PRELIMINARY_ECOLOGICAL_APPRAISAL-1039594.pdf

or, if unavailable, view Preliminary Ecological Appraisal near the foot of the Documents page at:

http://planninganddevelopment.nelincs.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=NVYFP5LJLVI00


The proposed development will unbalance the site, and many of the farmland birds will surely flee.

There is also the chance that the hedgerow will ultimately be hacked down to no more than waist height, resulting in further habitat loss.

You just have to look at the photo on the front cover of the ecologist's report to form an assessment on the birdlife potential of the site. You could well imagine hearing a skylark or even a cuckoo - and perhaps seeing a wooddpecker and a few hirundines. But probably not for much longer

Depressing

I had a quick look at the ecological appraisal. I have been amazed over the years at the quality of material produced by ecological consultants, and this report did little to alter my views. Among the many things that caught my eye were

An apparent failure to distinguish between IUCN and UK red lists, leading to such garbled statements as "Other species can utilise the site such as Swallows (Hirundo rustica) which are on the IUCN Red list of Threatened Species as being of least concern (Amber List)."

The identification of the single Tree Sparrow seen in a hedge as a male. Impressive.

The claim that "The development of the fields off Station Road, Habrough into 125 residential properties and gardens will have no impact on the wildlife of the area, especially any protected species". What? No impact at all? So, the implication is that all of the grassland and the invertebrates it supports and all the subterranean invertebrates and the mammals and birds that feed on them will continue to prosper despite the roads and houses being placed on top of it. The householders will be surprised but it may save on carpets.

I could go on... (For example, a table of "Protected species" listing only a selection of birds [presumably either red list species or "species of principal importance", though it is not defined], whereas all bird species are protected; it's just that, to paraphrase George Orwell, some birds are more protected than others.) But what's the point? We're all doomed anyway.

The consultant is a member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Maintenance (CIEEM). The institute has a professional standards committee.

No mention of insects, and no night survey for mammals amphibians moths etc
only the one visit recorded,

John

There are plans afoot to build at the rear of our bungalow so, naturally, I made a point of reading the ecological survey which was done last March! The Surveyor recorded four species of bird in the hedges surrounding the field at the back of us - the date was the same as a Birdtrack submission from my garden and surrounds which was fifteen species! Needless to say I made the planners aware in my objection letter. With due respect to any members who conduct such surveys I think they are an absolute farce.

Agree Stuart looking at the site photo I would expect to find a lot more than the results shown .

regards John