Mother Nature on the run as council paves way for destruction of songbird-rich wildlife site

Designated a Site of Nature Conservation - but soon likely to be cleared, flattened and  industrialised 

IT looks like the end for a leafy, nature-rich area in North East Lincolnshire.

The 0.68-hectare site, which is located to the south-east of Hewitt's Avenue in New Waltham, near Cleethorpes, has been earmarked for an energy storage depot.

Despite being rich in songbirds, wildflowers, bats, bees, plus butterflies and other pollinating insects, North East Lincolnshire Council believes it is not worth preserving.

Says NELC's ecology officer, Rachel Graham: "There are no issues as far as I'm aware - with no loss in biodiversity."

Her comment seems to have persuaded the planning case officer Bethany Loring who has decided that, even though the site has previously been deemed a Site of Nature Conservation, no environmental impact  assessment is required. 

Says she: "The site is vacant and overgrown - it has become redundant and lies empty as disused land."

The decision means that the developer, Harmony Energy plc, will not have to go the time and expense of commissioning a full environmental impact assessment in advance of submitting a planning application.

The Grimsby News says: "It is devastating that the borough is now likely to lose yet another area rich in wildlife - one designated as a site of wildlife interest. The comments from the council officers seems to reflect not just a distressingly casual regard for conservation, but also a complete misunderstanding of current planning legislation. It is not enough to ensure that there is no biodiversity loss - it is the responsibility of local councils to ensure there is a minimum of 10 per cent gain. With this proposal, there will, alas, be 100 per cent loss.