Page 10 - Wildlife News August 2018
P. 10
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The Government’s proposed Oxford to Cambridge Expressway road is likely to have a
devastating impact on local wildlife. BBOWT is doing all it can to protect the natural
environment in the face of this threat, says Director of External Affairs Tom Beckett
A s the only conservation organisation dedicated The lack of public consultation on the proposals is woeful. This
exclusively to the wildlife of Berks, Bucks and Oxon, includes a failure by Highways England to conduct a Strategic
BBOWT works tirelessly to stand up for our local Environmental Assessment (SEA) to thoroughly consider all of the
natural environment. We do this in a number of ways, including potential impacts. If an SEA isn’t undertaken before a preferred
by scrutinising all major planning proposals that pose a risk corridor is selected, the opportunity to fully scrutinise and
to wildlife. compare the impacts of all possible Expressway routes will be lost
forever.
The latest concern is the Government’s plans for a new road
between the A34 south of Oxford and Milton Keynes. The Oxford We are also disappointed by the lack of commitment to
to Cambridge Expressway has the potential to have a devastating achieving a net gain for wildlife, as outlined in the Government’s
impact on the natural environment and nationally-important 25 Year Environment Plan, and the lack of a Habitats Regulations
wildlife, affecting a number of designated wildlife sites and Assessment on all three corridors by the Department for Transport.
priority habitats, including our own nature reserves.
In April we hosted a hustings in Bicester to debate the issues
Statements from the National Infrastructure Commission surrounding the Expressway and housing development in the
indicate that at least one new town will be built along the wider area. Councillors from across the political spectrum offered
preferred route, raising further cause for concern. their views with questions posed by the public.
BBOWT and the neighbouring Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, BBOWT has written to all MPs whose constituencies will be
Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire have participated in a affected by the Expressway and has met several in person. We
closed consultation about the proposals, with senior planning will continue to meet other decision-makers to ensure they
officers and ecologists from both Wildlife Trusts examining the fully appreciate the impacts of the Expressway on the natural
likely impacts of three potential route corridors on designated environment.
ecological sites, nature reserves and important natural features
within Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire. Such a major infrastructure project demands a coordinated
response and we are collaborating with other organisations,
Our most serious concerns are for the wildlife-rich habitats including the RSPB, which has restored the wetland reserve at
of Cothill Fen near Abingdon, Oxford Meadows, the Otmoor Otmoor, successfully attracting breeding bitterns and marsh
Basin, and the Upper Ray Valley and Bernwood Forest in harriers after centuries of absence.
Buckinghamshire, which include several Wildlife Trust nature
reserves. These areas feature rare floodplain meadows rich in wild At the time of writing we are expecting an announcement
flowers; ancient woodlands that support the Bechstein’s bat, one by Highways England on which of the three corridor options
of Britain’s rarest mammals; and fens of a type so scarce that only they have chosen. We will continue to actively participate in the
19 hectares remain in England. consultation process to ensure the best possible outcome for
wildlife.enerationgrasp it with bothands.
10 Wildlife news / August 2018
