[Rob_D]

Sounds like a tricky one to fight because I'd expect more local people to be keen on having angling and boating than a wild place. I wish I was wrong, but I don't think the majority of people in Britain really appreciate wild places at all, except to empty their dogs. But don't let that put you off trying to stop or change a scheme that hasn't taken the wildlife into account. They shouldn't get away with that.

The way you describe it, I'd be bitterly opposed to the scheme myself - destroying or harming a nature reserve to make way for boating and angling apalls me. Does the nature reserve have any official status? Who owns the land/waterway?

It was mentioned in response to your post on the mammals forum, but Schedule 5 of W&C act does come into it "http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-1815" for water voles.

"Subject to the provisions of this Part, if any person intentionally -
a) damages or destroys, or obstructs access to, any structure
or place which any wild animal included in Schedule 5
uses for shelter or protection; or
b) disturbs any such animal while it is occupying a
structure or place which it uses for that purpose,

he shall be guilty of an offence."

So regardless of the status of the nature reserve, I can't see that the local planning authorities can just ignore this legislation, can they? Your call for environmental input surely must be listened to at the very least. If you tell them they would be committing a crime, then that should get their attention.

What about contacting the local wildlife trust as a start, can they help?

Good on you for caring and hope you can get some help. I get the feeling alot of planning authorities know what they are doing will damage wildlife, but they hope no one speaks up so they can just ignore it.