No one reassured by ‘biodiversity support’

Shay Bottomley’s article in last week’s Maidenhead Advertiser, ‘Further biodiversity details will ‘come forward’ on Maidenhead Golf Course’ (May 12, 2022) highlights a lot of questions regarding our council’s claims that its Borough Local Plan will ‘support biodiversity’.

RBWM says they ‘worked constructively with Natural England in preparing the BLP’.

I’d be very keen to hear how Natural England perceived the experience!

This administration has repeatedly ignored the thoughts and concerns highlighted by local people and other stakeholders, in relation to their environmentally damaging BLP.

Our council’s track record on biodiversity is far from exemplary.

Given that they haven’t met the targets set out in their own environment and climate strategy, and they have deferred the adoption of the Biodiversity Action Plan for who knows how long, I am not very optimistic about any ‘supporting biodiversity’ details that may come forward.

CALA Homes is not known for its biodiversity credentials either.

A quick glimpse at their website shows that they tick that particular box by having an Urban Wildlife Strategy; I am not quite sure how you ‘optimise opportunities for urban wildlife throughout all of our developments’, whist decimating around 50 acres of mature woodlands, complete with native bluebells, deer, owls, slow worms, red kites, bats and other protected species, and then replace them with a green spine of new grass, plants and trees.

This proposed development includes high density housing right next to a fragile ancient woodland.

The Woodland Trust advocates a buffer zone for any development, but with one of this size, I believe they would advocate a buffer of between 50 and 100 metres to mitigate the damage to the wildlife that relies on ancient woodland.

Our council say they are committed to engaging with the local community, but they have repeatedly ignored our pleas to halt their development plans for this publicly owned park land leased by the golf club.

Shall we see how constructively they will work with other experts going forwards when it starts to impact on the size of this development?

TINA QUADRINO

Maidenhead