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Angela
Rayner
-
Steve
Reed
Dear Minister's,
FAO:
The Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP (Deputy Prime
Minister)
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA
&
FAO:
The Rt Hon Steve Reed OBE MP
Secretary of State Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs DEFRA.
Seacole Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Re: Urgent Action Required to Protect Wildlife and Natural Habitat from Housing Development: WD/2024/2257/MAJ
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to draw your urgent attention to a pressing conservation issue in
Lime Park, Herstmonceux, where housing development company's
are planning to divert the natural surface water supply from two mature ponds that are critical habitats for several species, including the legally protected Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus) and common toads (Bufo bufo).
The proposed development would redirect all rainfall from the adjacent fields
at Lime Cross, away from these ponds, risking the drying up of these vital aquatic ecosystems. As you are aware, Great Crested Newts are listed as a Priority Species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and are protected under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. The disruption of their habitat, especially in light of ongoing
climate
change-induced water level drops, poses a severe threat to their survival.
Key Arguments for Conservation:
Legal Protections: The Great Crested Newt is protected under both UK and
European legislation, making it illegal to disturb, harm, or destroy their habitats. Any action that jeopardizes their habitat would be in direct violation of these laws.
Ecological Importance: These ponds support a rich diversity of wildlife, including ducks, moorhens, and various amphibians, playing a crucial role in the local ecosystem. The loss of these ponds would have a cascading negative impact on biodiversity.
Climate Change Considerations: With climate change already affecting
water levels, it is imperative to conserve natural water bodies that serve as crucial habitats for wildlife. Disrupting these ecosystems would exacerbate the negative effects of climate change on local biodiversity.
Sustainable Development: While development is essential, it must be balanced with environmental conservation. There are sustainable alternatives that can be explored to ensure the protection of these habitats while meeting development needs.
Given the above points, I urge you to intervene and recover the planning application submitted by the housing development company. It is essential that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) be conducted to fully understand the consequences of this project on the local wildlife and habitats. Additionally, alternative solutions that do not harm these vital ecosystems should be considered.
Such as
alternative sites for genuinely affordable house building,
including the field at Lime End Farm, that the surface water
from Lime Cross, it is proposed should be diverted towards,
together with a Bypass, so as not to exacerbate the pothole
situation in the Village of Herstmonceux, any further. And so
avoiding use of the proposed junction near a brow of a hill on
the A271.
Your prompt attention to this matter would be greatly appreciated by the local community and conservationists who are committed to protecting our natural heritage. I am confident that with your support, we can find a balanced solution that upholds our environmental responsibilities while supporting sustainable development.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name and Address]
Dear
Councillors Planning Officers & Chief Executive,
FORMAL
LETTER OF OBJECTION: PLANNING APPLICATION NUMBER:
WD/2024/2257/MAJ
I/we am/are writing to express our strongest possible
objections to the proposed diversion of surface water from the
field adjacent to the pond network at Lime Park. This proposal
poses a severe threat to the established ecosystem, local
heritage, and amenity value of this unique site.
This network of ponds has been sustained for over 40 years by
surface water runoff from the adjacent field. This established
flow of water has become a prescriptive right under the
Prescription Act 1832, meaning that the continued flow of
water cannot be legally obstructed after such a long period of
uninterrupted use. Diverting this water source will have a
devastating impact on the ponds, likely leading to their
desiccation and the destruction of the established ecosystem.
We are deeply concerned about the impact on protected species,
including ducks,
toads,
moorhens,
herons,
and great
crested newts, which are known to inhabit the ponds. The
proposed development could be in breach of the following
legislation, and potentially illegal, with those involved in
any grant of permission, becoming accessories to any wildlife
crime, as per the Abettors Act of 1861:
- Wildlife
and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended)
-
Conservation
of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017
Furthermore, we believe the proposed diversion infringes upon
the rights of those affected under the Human Rights Act 1998:
- Article 8 (Right to respect for private and family life,
home and correspondence): The ponds and surrounding
environment form an integral part of the local community's
enjoyment of the area, impacting their private and family
life.
-
Protocol 1, Article 1 (Protection of property): The
established ecosystem and the amenity value of the ponds
contribute to the value of surrounding properties and
represent a form of "possession" that should be
protected.
Critically, the pond network is an integral part of the
setting of a unique local heritage asset: the only surviving
early electricity
generating
station from circa 1896. This building is a significant
historical landmark, and its setting, including the ponds and
surrounding landscape, contributes significantly to its
historical and architectural significance. Also, a potential
future UNESCO
world
heritage site. The rural setting and surrounding
countryside are part of the charm of the technology that
nestles in this estate, as a time capsule. This historical and
environmental context may well be protected by other
conservation law, and that is now under threat. The proposed
diversion would severely compromise this historical setting
and diminish the heritage value of the site.
We urge you to immediately reconsider the proposed surface
water diversion and conduct a thorough and independent
ecological and heritage impact assessment. This assessment
must consider the long-term impact on the pond ecosystem,
protected species, the established water flow rights under the
Prescription
Act, human rights considerations, and the impact on the
setting of the historic generating station.
We demand a full consultation with all stakeholders, including
local residents, heritage organizations, and environmental
groups, to find a solution that protects this invaluable
natural and historical asset.
[We
are prepared to pursue all available legal avenues to protect
this important site. Don't include this. A crowd funded
group will need to apply to the Courts for injunctions and
Judicial Review, should the council approve the application.
There is no other remedy in the UK. Although, if leave is
refused, an application might be made to the European Court of
Human Rights. There is no fee for such application.]
Yours faithfully,
Concerned of Herstmonceux
CLIMATE
INACTION SUMMIT -
Human activities are releasing nearly 10 Gegatons of Carbon (about 36 Billion tons of CO2) into the atmosphere every year, driving atmospheric CO2 concentrations to 400 parts per million
(ppm) from their original pre-industrial levels of 280 ppm. This increase in CO2 and other
greenhouse gases concentrations traps additional energy in the earth's climate system. What happens to this "extra" energy (0.5-1 watt/m2) remains a mystery to many outside the field of climate and sciences.
Climate change occurs when changes in Earth's climate system result in new weather patterns that last for at least a few decades, and maybe for millions of years. The climate system is comprised of five interacting parts, the atmosphere
(air), hydrosphere (water), cryosphere (ice and permafrost), biosphere (living things), and lithosphere (earth's crust and upper mantle).
The climate system receives nearly all of its energy from
the sun, with a relatively tiny amount from earth's interior. The climate system also gives off energy to outer space. The balance of incoming and outgoing energy, and the passage of the
energy through the climate system, determines Earth's energy budget.
....
...
Carbon
dioxide (CO2) is essential to life on Earth but too much
is th
...
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