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Our Roving Correspondent
KNUTSFORD GUARDIAN (UK) 23 August 08 Experts must capture newts (Andrew McCreaddie)
At least 17 great crested newts will have to be captured before developers can start doubling the size of the Parkgate Industrial Estate.
It will be a delicate and difficult job and could take ecologists more than two months.
It is also one that can only be done during the breeding season.
The newts, which have been found living in ponds at Parkgate, are protected by law.
Last week agents HOW Planning said Monckton Properties would carry out whatever work was needed so it could develop the site.
“We’ve provided a mitigation proposal to make that development acceptable,” said spokesman Jon Suckley.
Details of what needs to be done are included in a report to Macclesfield Borough Council.
Monckton Properties, which is run by landowner Randle Brooks, hopes to create 1,150 jobs by building offices, warehouses and industrial units on farmland behind Parkgate Industrial Estate.
But first the company must apply for a Natural England licence to destroy the great crested newts’ habitats. The newts were discovered by torchlight by consultant ecologists Penny Anderson Associates who visited the site six times.
They found 17 great crested newts living in - or near - the seven ponds.
HOW Planning believes just one breeding ground will have to be destroyed but plans to replace it with three ponds. They also plan to create two more habitats nearby so that breeding grounds are closer and the newts can migrate from Tatton Park.
“These provisions will adequately compensate for the loss,” said Penny Anderson Associates.
About six months later experts will be expected to start capturing the newts in nets and bottles during the spring breeding season.
However, once the newts began to hibernate in October, the developers will not be allowed to disturb them.
The developers have also been told to install a fence to stop the newts re-entering the development site.
Experts must also create new habitats for birds, bats, toads, frogs and other newts founds on the site.
http://www.knutsfordguardian.co.uk/news/quirkies/3616320.Experts_must_capture_newts/
At least 17 great crested newts will have to be captured before developers can start doubling the size of the Parkgate Industrial Estate.
It will be a delicate and difficult job and could take ecologists more than two months.
It is also one that can only be done during the breeding season.
The newts, which have been found living in ponds at Parkgate, are protected by law.
Last week agents HOW Planning said Monckton Properties would carry out whatever work was needed so it could develop the site.
“We’ve provided a mitigation proposal to make that development acceptable,” said spokesman Jon Suckley.
Details of what needs to be done are included in a report to Macclesfield Borough Council.
Monckton Properties, which is run by landowner Randle Brooks, hopes to create 1,150 jobs by building offices, warehouses and industrial units on farmland behind Parkgate Industrial Estate.
But first the company must apply for a Natural England licence to destroy the great crested newts’ habitats. The newts were discovered by torchlight by consultant ecologists Penny Anderson Associates who visited the site six times.
They found 17 great crested newts living in - or near - the seven ponds.
HOW Planning believes just one breeding ground will have to be destroyed but plans to replace it with three ponds. They also plan to create two more habitats nearby so that breeding grounds are closer and the newts can migrate from Tatton Park.
“These provisions will adequately compensate for the loss,” said Penny Anderson Associates.
About six months later experts will be expected to start capturing the newts in nets and bottles during the spring breeding season.
However, once the newts began to hibernate in October, the developers will not be allowed to disturb them.
The developers have also been told to install a fence to stop the newts re-entering the development site.
Experts must also create new habitats for birds, bats, toads, frogs and other newts founds on the site.
http://www.knutsfordguardian.co.uk/news/quirkies/3616320.Experts_must_capture_newts/