Natural England has recently issued a couple of press releases concerning prosecutions of companies that have damaged great crested newt habitat. In one case, EDF Energy carried out an extension to one of their Essex sites following the construction of...
Natural England has recently issued a couple of press releases concerning prosecutions of companies that have damaged great crested newt habitat. In one case, EDF Energy carried out an extension to one of their Essex sites following the construction of a new housing estate nearby. Unfortunately this work was undertaken without an ecological assessment and caused disturbance to great crested newt terrestrial habitat.
Natural England spokesperson Paul Cantwell is quoted as saying:
"This case highlights the importance of companies, including utility companies, of carrying out ecological assessments before undertaking works on sites where there may be protected species. It is not just large scale developments or projects that can have detrimental impacts on protected species, smaller scale work such as this can also be damaging."
In the second case, Yorkshire developer Essential Vivendi Ltd was fined £11,500 for ignoring advice previously offered by Natural England and undertaking construction works that resulted in significant damage to a great crested newt population. This represents the single largest fine ever issued for disturbance to great crested newt habitat. Natural England expressed disappointment that it had become necessary to pursue a prosecution and advised
"Thousands of great crested newt populations have been lost in the last century, many to developments built where newts were not considered. The law now protects declining species like the great crested newt, and many developers easily comply by getting early specialist advice, and by talking to us."
Such specialist advice can of course be obtained from Calumma Ecological Services. For projects not located in SE England, other appropriately licensed consultants can be identified by contacting IEEM.