Topic: | Holy what a buch of liars, Batman or Whoops They Did It Again | |
Posted by: | John Cameron | |
Date/Time: | 06/12/12 08:56:00 |
More evidence emerges of the lies by Wandsworth's planning department when considering whether they needed to trouble themselves with an Environmental Impact Assessment The screening opinion written by the planning officer for the application 2011/5646 states "....there is no evidence of bats, badger or reptile activity on the site..." However the reality is that the ecological assessment states the opposite, that there is firm evidence of both bats and badger activity on the site, and the planning officers were entirely aware of it when they wrote their screening opinion. Documents supporting the evidence were provided to the planners, who buried them by not publishing the reports on the planning register online, as they should have done. In essence they ignored them, and then kept them back from the public gaze. The results of an inspection of the site on 4 January 2012 states... "However, during the walkover of the site perimeter/ common area, a badger latrine with fresh droppings was found approx 1.5m north of hole 9, located just outside the boundary to the north west. The hole was noted as being re-opened during the December visits (see December report)" A phone call to Natural England's Badgerman confirms that a badger latrine is firm evidence of a badger sett nearby, as it is how badgers mark their territory. There was also evidence of "low level badger activity" on the site in 2007, when the previous, discredited scheme was being considered. In terms of bats they were observed at dusk on the three nights of the survey, over a short period in a sub-optimal time of the year for observing bats, late September and early October 2011. The bats were seen foraging up and down the alley between the trees and the buildings, in corridors between the buildings and in courtyards surrounded by buildings. Plans showing the flight paths of the bats are provided together with times and types of bats. They were seen using BatBinoculars and BatDetectors (only kidding, according to the report the visual inspection utilised high powered binoculars and torch. The echolocation surveys were undertaken utilising a heterodyne detector and Pettersson frequency division detectors) The buildings were identified as “low to moderate” for bat roosting potential. The buildings were not inspected for bats as... “The buildings contain asbestos which has been subject to a high level of disturbance, rendering it unsafe. Therefore, no access was permitted as part of the surveys”. How very convenient. The buildings that are so unsafe as to prevent an inspection for likely bat roosts, but at the same time, are sufficiently safe from contamination not to warrant an EIA that is required for contaminated sites. So the "no evidence of bats, badger...." is another whopper of a lie by Wandsworth planners, to help ensure that an EIA is not required and to speed the swift passage of their own planning application. And which has resulted in a planning application that is unlawful. As Robin might have said...... "Holy bat droppings Batman" PS Interfering with bats or badgers is of course a criminal offence. For Bats, the legislation is the Wildlife and Countryside Act; the Countryside and Rights of Way Act; the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act; Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations. Penalties on conviction - the maximum fine is £5,000 per incident or per bat (some roosts contain several hundred bats), up to six months in prison, forfeiture of items used to commit the offence, eg vehicles, plant, machinery. Badgers are protected by The Protection of Badgers Act 1992, Penalties on conviction are up to six months in prison and / or a fine of up to £5,000 |