On a warm and sultry Friday evening in Macclesfield, almost 70 people turned up to hear Danes Moss Trust joined by Cheshire Wildlife Trust speak about recent developments in the campaign to save the town’s peatlands. We discussed Cheshire East Council’s decision to revoke the ten reserved matters applications – which is very positive news – plus some of the threats that still hang over Danes Moss North and other valuable wildlife-rich sites.
The chief threat does not come from our local authority or major housebuilders, but from our own government in the shape of the Planning & Infrastructure Bill that is currently making its way through parliament.
There are some good things in the Bill, especially relating to renewable energy development and the national grid, but Part 3: Development and nature recovery, is based on deeply flawed evidence and will be catastrophic for our natural environment. At its core, it makes it possible for developers to avoid nature protection regulations and laws by paying into a Nature Restoration Fund. The money they pay into the fund may not even be sufficient for habitat creation as some of it can be used to fund Natural England’s running costs.
The Bill has made its way through the House of Commons, and its journey through the House of Lords has begun. On 23rd June it will have its second reading, following which it will be scrutinised by the Lord’s bill committee.
We urge you to email the House of Lords to request that Part 3 is paused and fully debated on the basis of accurate, up-to-date evidence. The address is:
contactholmember@parliament.uk
Please mark your email for the attention of one, or all of, these Peers:
- Baroness Natalie Bennett of Manor Castle
- Baroness Mary Goudie
- Baroness Kathryn Parminter
- Baroness Barbara Young of Old Scone
- Professor Lord John Krebs
- Earl John Russell
Each of these members of the House of Lords has a deep interest in environmental issues and should be able to propose amendments to the bill. They need to know that informed citizens are deeply concerned at the destructive effects of Part 3.
The Bill will undoubtedly have an adverse effect on existing environmental legislation – even the government’s own advisor, the Office for Environmental Protection, has told the Secretary of State for Housing & Local Government that this is the case. The government has, to date, ignored their advice.
Other ways to help:
Wild Justice
In the light of this situation, our friends at Wild Justice https:// wildjustice. org.uk/ are preparing a legal challenge – we also urge you to support their campaign.
Their press release on their legal challenge against the government can be found here.
The Wildlife Trusts/Cheshire Wildlife Trust
You can also join your local Wildlife Trust to support them with their campaign to change this proposed legislation, this page gives more information about the proposed bill and the following links provide detail on it’s progress so far:
