‘No evidence’ that works killed protected species
An investigation has found no direct evidence that protected lizards were “slaughtered” on a controversial Bath and North East Somerset Council development site.
Residents had claimed an “enormous tractor with a huge plough” had killed “most if not all of the slow worms” during preparation works in the field off Englishcombe Lane.
Avon and Somerset Police did not proceed with the complaint and now B&NES’S chief executive, Will Godfrey, has concluded his own in-house investigation.
The council’s plans to build 37 homes in the field were approved on August 26 against the advice of the authority’s own ecologist, who was not certain the delicate habitat could be recreated on a separate site.
The decision came just weeks after the council declared an ecological emergency, sparking claims of hypocrisy.
Mr Godfrey said: “The merits, or otherwise, of the planning approval have not been considered. The only issue at hand here is whether there is substantive evidence to demonstrate that the ecological work conducted on site was responsible for the death of two slowworms.
“My conclusion is there is no evidence to suggest that the ecological mitigation works have caused the death of the two slowworms.”
Three weeks passed between the alleged incident and the photos being shared.
Mr Godfrey said: “If the motivation of the complaint was to ensure no continuing damage to the ecology I would have expected the photos to be sent much earlier.”
The plans were approved after promises to relocate the field’s tufa springs - a rare habitat of countylevel importance - to a separate site in Pennyquick.
The council’s ecologist was not certain that the habitats could be recreated.
But a university professor was “comfortable the strategy should work”.
Opponents said the approval was an “embarrassment” when the council had declared an ecological emergency and urged leader Dine Romero to revoke permission to prevent an “ecological crime”.
In an open letter to residents this week, she said she had asked Mr Godfrey to investigate because she was “extremely concerned” about the allegations.
She said: “I am satisfied that this draws a line under these specific allegations, but I should emphasise that I will always be committed to ensuring that works at these and other development sites take place in full compliance of the rules.
“This planning permission for this development was granted subject to the developer meeting clear ecological requirements.
“This includes offsetting the impact of the development on wildlife by creating new habitats at a larger site in Pennyquick Lane.”
Cllr Romero said in a statement there is a “fine balance between the need to provide new homes and ecology”.