Great Crested newts have delayed our stables.....

arwenplusone

arwenplusone

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This is crazy.

Found a lovely new yard who are putting up 7 more stables (we are taking 4), great facilites etc. we are unhappy at current yard so cannot wait to move!

Only trouble is, our planning permission has been halted due to 'great crested newts' in the area!
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Basically they are protected species - YO has a pond in her garden and I guess they are prevalent there. But stables are across the other side! and aren't really obtrusive - we aren't building any roads....

Now I'm all for preserving a species but this is crazy.
We've gone to appeal, due to be settled next thursday, one way or another
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Really really want to move to this yard so please keep fingers crossed for me!!!

Worst thing is, a business park has just gone up just down the road!! No problems there then......
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Anyone had any experience of this???
 
Can they not make an new place for the newts? I thought if you can make a better, safer place for them then you can move them?
Otherwise can they not build the stables on another side of the yard?
 
Newts migrate and live on land in the winter.

I'd take this seriously as a farmer bulldozed his pond with great cresteds in it, and went to prison for a year, and was fined £10,000.

Don't worry though, as soon as they have all cleared out the pond, you should be able to go ahead... But it would make more sense to do it whilst they're still in the pond!!
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My family are trying to get planning permission on some land they own and it would of been chucked out at the first stage if they had found water voles (moles maybe cant remember) in the ditches ! taking into account the building land in our area with pp goes for approx a million £ per acre they would have been the most hunted animals ever! It would be a good way of talking my parents in to buying a few extra jack russels ! luckily they werent there but the wildlife people are very protective, and once they find proof of anything you have no chance! Are the newts seasonal animals - are they likely to move on soon ( like travellers!!)
 
!!!! BooBW! That IS worrying....
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Seriously though - the stables are a way away. Perhaps we could build them a 'safe house' for migration though?

Really really want to be on this yard!
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I prefer the newt, myself.
Cheaper to feed, safer (check the Health and Safety Executive's stats for deaths caused by newts and horses and you'll find it's true) probably more obliging than your average horse.
The second newt picture doesn't look quite right...is it a deformed one?
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S
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The business park probably had an environmental study undertaken to assess the impact of the development on the newt family; and probably undertook preventative measures such as newt fencing to comply with protected species requirements. Might be worth some reseach in t'internet - see if the council will allow you to contain the newts using a newt fence.

Stunning horse btw.
 
Lol Shilasdair - think you are right! I presume that nuking the newts is cruelty?.... do they taste good???

Blackhawk - we should have been gone already!!!
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Thank goodness H is flexible.....
 
The deal is that GCNs are a protected species, and all protected species are a material consideration when determining planning applications. The stables may be nowhere near the pond, but newts live for most of their life on land, not in the water, and grassland is a good terrestrial habitat for them. They can move up to a kilometer from the pond too. If there are records of GCN ponds within 1km of the site you have applied for permission on, then yes, I would expect you to need a GCN survey prior to the planning being determined. Unfortunately, you are waaaay too late for this year - nothing can be done survey-wise until late March (ish - weather dependent) next year. There are possible ways round this, none of them simple, all requiring someone licensed, and the agreement of Natural England (Or CCW in Wales), and frankly it is a bit late for that too - hibernation time is nearly upon us! Legal precedents have been set whereby LPAs are now very wary of granting planning permission without all the protected species info up front - TBH they should not do it and your permission could get overturned at judicial review/planning enquiry if they do grant it without this info anyway. The legal precedent was set in Cornwall, and caused the council to get into hot water, hence other places being very wary.

As you may have guessed, I know more than a little about this - PM me any questions if you want, can't guarantee a quick answer, but I'll see it at some point!
 
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