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Urgent advice - threatened adder site

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    Posted: 24 Mar 2005 at 10:02pm

I'm not having a very good time of it this year visiting adder hibernacula. All I wanted to do was get some decent records for the Make the Adder Count recording scheme and once again, I've come across a problem.

A bit of background. Kent Reptile & Amphibian Group are aware of an adder site that is threatened by development in NW Kent.

It was set aside for development many years ago and the stance of Dartford Council has been to ignore its subsequent KWT SNCI designation on the grounds that it has already decided that the site will be developed.

Unfortunately 20+ years have passed since this decision was made and the site has now become an exceptional haven for wildlife.

I have extensively surveyed the site for reptiles and established an exceptional viviparous population, good slow-worm and good adder population. The adder population as far as we have confirmed so far represents the most Northwesterly population in the county, loss of this site will signify a permanent range reduction of the species in Kent.

The area is very well described as a 'phoenix site' rather than its current 'brownfield designation' as it has entirely reverted to match its semi rural setting. It is also immediately adjacent to a SSSI.

Enough of the background, this is what I found at the site today. Three areas of ground have been disturbed. I don't know what the aim of the work has been or what sort of machine caused it. There were no tracks left on the ground but it did look like the disturbance could only have been caused by heavy plant machinery and been of a deliberate nature. There was no sign of any plant on the site today.

Picture 1: Illustrating known adder hibernaculum and proximity of the disturbance.

Picture 2: Close-up of same area of disturbance showing nature of work carried out.

I want to ascertain the purpose of the disturbance. The pictures illustrate one of the three areas disturbed. The other two areas were large rectangles of similarly disturbed ground.

I should make it clear that there hasn't been any general management at the sites for years so this is not a bit of general gardening by a misguided management team. The site is an old hospital trust site that has been neglected since the so-called 'hospital' (a couple of rows of Nissan huts) fell out of use.

If anyone can suggest what sort of plant machinery caused this disturbance (I think I've ruled out UFOs) or why it was carried out (Mervyn has suggested that it might have been to explore the depth of top soil at the site before development) it would be very useful.

Though I have flagged the reptile populations to KWT and suggested an extension of the SNCI designation on the grounds of my survey findings, no reptile mitigation appears to be in place.

If this is the start of development work, what should I do? I've already decided to contact KWT and Dartford Planning Services as soon as the holiday period is over.

Are there any other steps I can take to ensure that reptile mitigation is put in place before development starts? Clearly there is a legal obligation here if indeed this is what this disturbance signifies.

Should I take the step of calling the police in at this stage, I have no evidence that any reptiles have been killed by the work.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this rather long posting; I really could do with some help on this one.

Visit the early adder sightings thread for some pictures of a couple of old friends of mine sighted today. I have to admit I've been shedding a few tears tonight :0(

 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote calumma Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Mar 2005 at 12:23pm
Gemma,

I also suggest that you contact the local EN Office and explain your concerns. Please ensure that you also put everything in writing. It is vital that there is a paper trail.

The disturbance could also be part of an archaeological survey. Archaeologists work in the same way as 'ecological' consultants. They *very* often go onto sites before planning permission has been granted and start works. The damage at ********* is of concern, but currently quite limited. I have seen sites completely stripped by archaeologists. It may be worthwhile phoning around a few local trusts to see if they are doing the works. Canterbury Archaeological Trust would be a good start.

I am seeing so much disturbance and damage to key sites at the moment that frankly I'm not sure what we can do. You may also want to ask local ARG members to keep an eye on the site. I believe one such person lives very close somewhere in Swanscombe!

Lee

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote administrator Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Mar 2005 at 9:55pm
Thanks for the help Lee, I am worried about what might be coming, I have visions of a large trench directly adjacent to the emerging adders and the poor things falling in as they disperse. I might have an angle there I suppose :0)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote calumma Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Mar 2005 at 10:15pm
The archaeological survey is likely an omen of things to come. I'm guessing that a planning application is not too far distant.

Lee
Lee Brady

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote administrator Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Mar 2005 at 10:44pm
My thought also. I will endevour to find out on Tuesday what the current situation is. The specific area pictured above was highlighted in the original planning application as important to wildlife, not much good if it is destroyed because of an archaeological survey.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote administrator Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Mar 2005 at 3:06pm
Update from a KRAG volunteer monitoring the ******* Site. I will remind people that no reptile mitigation is in place and that important populations of three of the widespread species are present, the site has been flagged up to the Kent Wildlife Trust and is adjacent to a SSSI

Hi Gemma

Took a look at ******* today [tuesday]could not believe the disturbance?It would seem that utility services have been excavated I.E water ,drains and electricity, what comes next is anyone's guess. There was no one on site to confront, and all excavation's had been backfilled. I got 2 records for you, despite the weather.1x adult slow-worm [male] 1x adult common lizard [male] unfortunately both came from the area's of most disturbance. I will pass on full records to you .Let me know if you can't get down in the near future and Iáwill continue the survey.

PS let me know if you get any info on the site

I found evidence of excavation of water, drainage, and electricity I.E inspection covers had been removed, drain covers had been broken ,and electricity warning notices had been moved. I do not doubt that archaeologist will investigate the site, but I feel that the site is being prepared for development. I found thatámost of the excavations followed existing building line's, and many of them follow a straight line from the highest point of the site to the lowest.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote administrator Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Mar 2005 at 6:22pm

I have found out from Dartford Planning that the work was carried out by contractors about a month ago. The work was to establish where old building footings are located on behalf of the landowners and not the actions of archaeologists. Trial trenches were dug and then backfilled using a JCB.

I will revisit the site tomorrow to gather more photographic evidence as the disturbance Ken has reported is much more extensive than I discovered on the 24th March.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote calumma Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Mar 2005 at 8:09pm
Gemma,

Again, it is important that you maintain a paper trail on this. The actions on site could have resulted in death and/or injury to protected species and may therefore represent an offence. Kent now has a police wildlife liaison officer. It may be worthwhile obtaining contact details from KWT and putting your concerns down on paper to the WLO.

Lee
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote administrator Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Mar 2005 at 10:25pm

Lee I have a mobile number for PC Andrew Small who is the Kent Wildlife Liason officer and will pass it on.

Richard Moyse at KWT has been very helpful and has fired off an email to EN, the ecological consultant for the site and other interested parties. I will generate a paper trail on Friday after seeing for myself the full extent of the disturbance highlighted by Ken.

Richard has provided the following statement, it is hoped this will highlight to those reading this thread the difficulties encountered by wildlife trusts when attempting to conserve sites and address protected species issues. I will just add that the site in question is one of those that Richard refers to where the local planning authority wishes to see the site developed and has therefore not included it in its local plan.

 

Kent Wildlife Trust puts a lot of its time and resources into planning issues. We respond to consultations on Local Plans, the Structure Plan, and are preparing a response to the draft SE Regional Plan. Each year we respond to around 150 to 200 planning applications, many of which affect populations of reptiles and amphibians. In our responses on these issues, we promote best practice, and have prepared, in association with Kent Reptile and Amphibian Group and English Nature, detailed guidance on what we expect to see in terms of site survey and mitigation work. However, we do not regulate planning, and our advice and comments do not have to be taken on board by planners. While great crested newts and reptiles have risen significantly up the planning agenda, due to their protected status, we continue to see developers and planners assuming that populations can easily be translocated, and continue to hear of reptiles being translocated to sites with existing populations. In addition, there are still many planners and developers who are not aware of the needs of herps, and we do occasionally hear of deliberately unscrupulous practice.

The Trust also administers the Local Wildlife Sites (SNCI) system in Kent. We have just revised the criteria for designation of Wildlife Sites, and it is now possible to designate sites on the basis of their herp populations (the relevant criteria were based on advice from KRAG). However, Local Wildlife Sites enjoy no statutory protection, and they are only protected if the relevant Local Planning Authority includes them in its Local Plan. Most Local Authorities do so as a matter of course, but some have omitted Wildlife Sites where they wish to see development of the site. Even where sites are recognised by the planning authority, protection is not absolute, and damage still occurs where the need for the proposed development is judged to outweigh the importance of the Wildlife Site.

In general, herps have far better recognition than they did a few years ago, and this is to the credit of the various ARGs around the country. Nonetheless, the importance of habitat conservation (as opposed to direct protection of individual animals) is still to be fully recognised, and there is a need for mainstream recognition of the importance of landscape-scale scale habitat restoration and defragmentation.

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