Wildlife Circus

Surrey County Council (SCC) proposes the repurposing of Surrey County Hall and associated buildings to create a mix of refurbishment and potential partial demolition to include a mixed-use development, including approximately 500 new residential units, additional space for new courts for the Crown Court, office space, shops or financial/professional services and car park.They have submitted an EIA scoping document which omits all of the ecological features at the site. Unfortunately, the documents for application cannot be viewed on the councils website. Two docs seen from the "EIA METHODOLOGY AND SCOPE" state that the ecological features were proposed to be 'out of scope' given little supposedly present in terms of biodiversity. I object to this on the grounds of European Protected Species known to roost nearby and two species of birds scheduled under the WCA 1981 associated with the site. The PEA mentioned undertaking bat roost surveys at some point in future but th

One of Britain’s most endangered trees is the native black poplar Populus nigra. Around the country there are a number of authorities with Biodiversity Action Plans to promote this species including in Greater London. The plans promote actions which increase public awareness over the plight of the tree; create inventories of existing trees; and carry out additional planting of locally sourced cuttings. Some plans state the need to use planning policy and Tree Protection Orders to protect trees that might be threatened. Others go as far as to remove flood-banks and create conditions suitable for floodplain woods exactly as those in Ham-between Ham Lands and the river Thames - where there are two fairly prostrate native black poplars. An analysis of Norfolk BP tree locations showed they were often associated with kilns, farms, mills, smithies and malthouses indicating they had been planted rather than a product of natural seed dispersal. The wood was fire resistant, can resist paraffin

 Yet another issue for Norbiton and overdevelopment in an Area of Deficiency to access to open space: loss of biodiversity, development of land destined for leisure but a very sad destruction of a population of slow worms. 16 slow worms at Kingsmeadow https://youtu.be/S_qOgYzJIlM     I have written the following letter to the Planning Department. Dear Kingston Planning Department I have objected to the above application on the council’s website but I wanted to add a video of the slow worms at this site https://youtu.be/S_qOgYzJIlM to show that the mitigation strategy is also flawed due to the numbers of animals as well as the timing as indicated in the document attached. This is an unusual population in such an urban area. The site was only surveyed during July and I have found a greater number of adult slow worms than the report attests. Slow worms are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside as amended under the CROW ACT 2000 but also they are a Priority Species under the UK Po

Disagree? Then challenge me Norbiton has lost 100 of its precious trees In only a couple of years it seems to me Tragically revealed in photography A more accurate record than your bureaucracy Whose FOI’s return ‘Just one lost tree’.   Just look at the sawdust in the cemetery Formerly a regiment of Lombardy’s. A game of numbers played by authorities. Using Orwellian counting systems and legalese. To enable multiple blocks to put warehousees   Cambridge road’s urban forest numbers 183 But unacknowledged in gardens - another 53. Apple, plum, pear, olives and massive cherries. Lime, oak, willow, in total, 28 species.   In Bonner Hill road rumble HGV’s, Removing cubic metres of soil from old factories. Earth and earthworms gone so no hope of new trees. On a total development footprint with accountants to please.   Planning conditions; modern routes to acquiring new trees. Where councils can relinquish responsibility But this only works wh