Position Paper - Environmental Issues

POSITION PAPER – Environmental issues preventing the delivery the proposed Carterton West Development We believe the Carterton West Option is undeliverable because of a number of technical, planning and political issues. This document highlights the environmental issues concerning the site identified as “Carterton West”. We oppose the Carterton West Option, as it will have a catastrophic impact on Carterton, the local environment and surrounding villages. Environmental Issues The proposed Carterton West Option development is against WODC’s commitment to protect the biodiversity corridor along the Shill Brook Valley. This is supported by the “Draft SHLAA Settlement Summary – Carterton” (January 2011) document on WODC’s web site and is specifically set out in section 1.24. The Shill Brook Valley has been fiercely protected in the past by WODC and now it is planned to breach the corridor with this significant housing development and cross it with at least one of the access roads. Furthermore, the following WODC Policies are contravened:• •

NE13 is contravened by the Carterton West Option regarding biodiversity. NE14 is contravened by the Carterton West Option regarding development adjacent to a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

There is strong evidence of significant wildlife in the area, such as badgers, bats, owls and birds of prey, woodpeckers and pied wagtails. We expect a full Environmental Impact Assessment to be carried out in accordance with all UK and European Legislation, including the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Habitats Regulations 2010 and the Countryside and Rights of Way Act for England and Wales 2000. It is anticipated that a significant colony of Great Crested Newts (GCN) are established in the balancing tank at the proposed Carterton West site. GCN’s are a protected species under European Law and their habitat should be undisturbed.

Landscape Issues Any development on the Alvescot Downs will never address the vast amount of beautiful Cotswold landscape that will be lost. By permitting the proposed Carterton West development, the following WODC Policies are contravened:• • • •

NE1 regarding protecting the countryside. NE2 regarding development of buffer areas. NE3 regarding harming the local landscape character. NE6 regarding protection of trees and hedgerows.

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CS1 – States developments in the open countryside will be strictly controlled and limited to that which requires and is appropriate for a rural location and respects the intrinsic character of the area.

No account is taken of the light pollution that will be caused by this proposed development and will seriously affect the landscape, no matter how many hedges and trees are planted. Shilton Park causes a glow for a significant distance and it is never truly dark in surrounding areas. Darkness is an important feature of unspoilt villages and the countryside. •

WODC Planning Policies BE21a), b), d) & e) are contravened by the Carterton West Option regarding light pollution