Thames plans 'threaten wildlife'

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 22 Feb 2008, 14:43

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7258146.stm

A wildlife charity has accused planners of failing in their legal duty to protect rare marshland wildlife in the Thames Estuary.

Lawyers for conservation group Buglife told the High Court planning consent should not have been given for a Royal Mail warehouse in Thurrock, Essex.

They told the judge the local wildlife faced "irrevocable damage" from the huge distribution centre.

Planners say conservationists were consulted throughout the process.

Economic benefits

Planning permission was granted by Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation, a quango set up by former deputy prime minister, John Prescott, to promote economic growth in the area.

On the first day of a judicial review into the planning application, Buglife's lawyer said the corporation had allowed the economic benefits of the plan to outweigh the harm it would cause to the local wildlife.

For Buglife, Michael Fordham QC told the court that permission would never have been granted had the local authority, Thurrock Council, been in charge of the planning application.

The charity says the project threatens irrevocable damage to bees, spiders and beetles at an important wildlife site.

Threatened species

The corporation refused to comment ahead of the judicial review, but insists the plan includes an environmental strategy.

Buglife, which is also known as the Invertebrate Conservation Trust, says the development, given the go-ahead in 2006, will endanger already threatened species.

These include the brownbanded carder bee, the saltmarsh shortspur beetle and the humpbacked red ant.

The charity's director, Matt Shardlow, believes the hearing will be the first test of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (2006).

The legislation requires public authorities to have regard to the conservation of biodiversity.

F0zziebear · Post by **F0zziebear** » 14 Mar 2008, 12:48

Does anyone know if this replacing an existing centre, or just an addition based on expanding numbers of people living in this region?

Night Tonic · Post by **Night Tonic** » 14 Mar 2008, 13:26

Likelihood is that other mail centres will be closed once its built. Its going to be one hell of a depot apparently.

CHAIRMAN · Post by **CHAIRMAN** » 17 Mar 2008, 23:09

It's a replacement for East London VOC and VSW. The existing site is becoming a coach park for the Olympics.

Post by **Lounge Lizard** » 18 Mar 2008, 05:44

CHAIRMAN wrote:It's a replacement for East London VOC and VSW. The existing site is becoming a coach park for the Olympics.

A coach park for the Olympics !!!!! We didn't need all that sort of expense last time in 1948 when the competitors were content sleeping in school sports halls.

smokerjim · Post by **smokerjim** » 18 Mar 2008, 20:54

Lounge Lizard wrote:
CHAIRMAN wrote:It's a replacement for East London VOC and VSW. The existing site is becoming a coach park for the Olympics.
A coach park for the Olympics !!!!! We didn't need all that sort of expense last time in 1948 when the competitors were content sleeping in school sports halls.

I remember being told that they slept in a tent city on Barn Hill, a mile or so from the stadium.

Darren Bent · Post by **Darren Bent** » 25 Mar 2008, 19:43

insists the plan includes an environmental strategy

I wonder what the strategy is ?

ROYALMAILCHAT

Thames plans 'threaten wildlife'

Thames plans 'threaten wildlife'

re: Why do they need this?