Wildlife Circus

    The latest report commissioned by Sustrans and the Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames by Studio Dekka Limited June 2021 to discharge condition 10 of the planning application for the New Malden to Raynes Lane Cycle track, does not demonstrate compliance with the original Bat Survey Report or Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) – updated 2017. I have written to Richard Graves to enquire on the level of involvement his company has had with the bat assessment in the lighting report; he has been quoted in just two paragraphs. I have also stated that our surveys (light and bats) found the corridor no longer usable by bats for commuting at the western end (although foraging areas remain around  mature trees towards  Raynes Park). The report contains raw data with the lux levels calculated at ground level (it does not give the methodology or the conditions at the time).   It does not address bats except that ‘ the Beverley corridor must be protec...

I have written several posts looking at the outcomes for biodiversity, particularly at infill and infrastructure developments in Kingston. These include: Tolworth Girls School & Tala Close Harlow Gardens, Lower Marsh Lane   N ew-malden-pipe-track S ixty-acre-wood-Chessington Gasholder site   In addition, comments have been sent to councillors, planners etc. regarding general loss of biodiversity at these and sites.    Perhaps it's time to draw a number of conclusions so that we do not make the same mistakes at Cambridge road estate and linked sites: Kingsmeadow and Cumberland house For this investigation,  ecological surveys were obtained for the schemes (usually by FOI requests). The surveys attested to the protection of certain habitats and species in law and policy ; and a requirement for the Mitigation Hierachy to be applied ; along with Net Gain for biodiversity as per the National Planning Policy Framework. The final Ecological Recommendations h...

non-native rye grass with the botanical interest of a rugby pitch Kingston Council has commissioned Land Use Consultants (LUC) to undertake an independent review of the borough’s Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs). SINCs are non-statutory sites that are designated due to their importance for nature conservation. A number of wildlife areas across Kingston are already recognised as SINCs as they form vital components of the ecological network and green corridor in the borough. The council attest that, 'A SINC designation raises awareness of a site’s importance for wildlife and biodiversity, particularly with regards to planning and land management decisions, and helps ensure they are afforded adequate protection by the planning system in London'. But will our degraded sites  pass this 'test' as the designation hasn't stopped sites from being destroyed or developed for infrastructure. Thames Water Pipe Track Site of (Grade 1 Borough) Import...