Environmental concerns ignored.

[Kymba]

I have just read this Article When are these people who make these decisions going to start living in the real world

Government gives go ahead to build an extra 642,000 houses in the South East
Already struggling under heavy pressure from habitat loss, the South East region’s wildlife has been dealt a major blow as the Panel Review of the draft South East Plan was published. The Wildlife Trusts in the South East (WTSE) have been campaigning hard for environmental needs to be properly considered alongside social and economic needs in the 20 year Plan. But they are dismayed that the Review (which follows the Examination in Public of the Plan earlier this year) has taken so little account of the environmental impact of the proposed scale of development across the region.
The Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT), like the other Wildlife Trusts in the region, had hoped that the expert panel looking at the draft Plan would listen to their arguments about the need to incorporate measures to safeguard our wildlife and to mitigate against the impact of new houses, roads and other infrastructure. The Review does acknowledges the need to protect and enhance the region’s biodiversity, BUT it then goes on to propose even more houses than were already planned (an additional 62,000 in the South East on top of the original 580,000) with no clear strategy on how to offset the increased ecological footprint that will inevitably result.

‘This is potentially disastrous for our wildlife.’ said Philippa Lyons, Chief Executive of BBOWT, ‘We recognise that growth needs to happen and that there will be significant development in the South East. However the scale of development originally set out in the draft Plan was already pushing the limit of the region’s environmental capacity. This revised Plan with its additional proposed housing (28,640 in Berks Bucks and Oxon on top of the suggested 180,480 already planned for the three counties) is a step too far at a time when there are huge uncertainties about water resources, waste water disposal and flood risk. How much more evidence does the Government need that we cannot keep hammering our environment?’
Ian Hepburn, WTSE Regional Policy Director added ‘On the plus side, the Panel recommends that the Plan retains some good policies to protect and enhance biodiversity, and they have agreed that ‘green-infrastructure’4 should be a new high level policy. But the Panel’s recommendation is weak and won’t deliver the necessary investment that our wildlife requires. So with the Plan supporting sustained development, it’s hard to see that the Panel has done much more than to stack the odds in favour of economic growth. This is not the way that ‘sustainable development’ is supposed to work!’
The Review, prepared by an independent Panel of Planning Inspectors, has now been submitted to the Government for consideration. The Secretary of State will publish any proposed changes later this year and there will be a twelve week period of public consultation. The Wildlife Trusts will use the opportunity to press for improved environmental policies.

[Pagan_Dave]

The County of Kent will be called "Kent City" before too long!!

[Gaina]

It's just dawned on me what we need to do - advise the government to do the opposite of what we want: 'Airport? Great - knock yourself out!....yes, of course we need more houses and shopping malls!'. I'd be glad to be ignored in that scenario.

[Jez]

Ruddy Do gooders

[Dan Salter]

"They paved paradise and put up a parking lot"...Joni Mitchell

[almostnormal]

its totally pants. youn think this is bad, i read today that donald trumps super golf course, 1000 holiday lets and 600 private homes mass development on the scottish coast has passed the first stage of approval because 'the economic and social benefits outweigh the ecological and environmental detriment'. i should point out that about a third of the site they're planning on building on is a SSSI. grrrr. indeed. they're all muppets! although thinking on that its an insult to the muppets. they're all idiots.

[Jez]

Of course i forgot economical growth always out ways ecological growth the squirrels never set up bank accounts now that's there own fault instead of consuming nuts.

[Meles meles]

Unbelievable, what cloud do these people live on??

[galanthus]

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

"They paved paradise and put up a parking lot"...Joni Mitchell

Too true unfortunatley, and given that the song was written several decades ago it's shameful to think no one has learned any different yet

[demicav]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, this island is only so big and cannot take the pressure of the amount of people influxing the country. While I don't really want to get into a political debate, these things have to be said and we all know what I mean. Now the government lives in a bubble ( called cloud cuckoo land ) and they seem insistent on ruining everything about this once great country. I have a horrible thought in my mind. It's a scene of devastation, nothing but concrete, thousands of entire species lost and the real losers will be mankind. I try to push that thought to the back of my mind but it scares me that this will, one day, be the reality.