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
