Comment
Draft Local Plan
Representation ID: 13616
Received: 23/03/2016
Respondent: Anne Clark
Think small scale - something you think is doing no harm may be extremely damaging to a specific animal in that area.
The excuse of "mitigating circumstances" is not acceptable. NO protected species should be disturbed.
Do not rely on the applicant to tell you the truth about the wildlife in the area they are interested in.
You say permission will not be given unless the "benefits outweigh the harm" but how can you measure this?? To you, cutting down 10 trees might not seem as doing any harm, but to the wildlife who reside in those trees or who use them for food or shelter, the harm you do is irreversible. You need to think more small scale, about the individual lives you might be affecting.
With regards to the protected species - in this case then mitigating circumstances or not, you must NOT allow development in those areas. Regardless of how small you think the damage to local wildlife is, to the wildlife involved, it is life changing and potentially fatal.
Also, you must not rely completely on the applicant to tell you the truth - many bats/badgers/foxes etc have suddenly "disappeared" when they were perceived to be in the way.
Disturbing protected species is illegal, please make sure the law is upheld!