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<u>LEIGH NEWS</u> (UK) 25 August 06 Newts given a sporting chance in new habitat - Colonies of newts have been moved from the site of the new stadium at Leigh Sports Village.
A population of the smooth variety of amphibians have been displaced by the current work on the multi-million pound sports complex which is slowly rising from the ground off Atherleigh Way.
The newts lived in three ponds north of Westleigh Brook which has been outlined as the site for the new 10,000 Leigh Centurions and Leigh RMI stadium.
They were discovered by ecologists, working for developers Greenbank, who have spent six weeks catching the newts, frogs and toads which lived in the ponds.
They then moved them to a new site on the south side of Westleigh Brook but to make their home complete, the amphibians need a pond to breed in.
Following discussions with Wigan Council, Greenbank has now got the green light to create the new pond.
Important
John Dennis, Greenbank's project manager, said: "We think it's important to protect all the wildlife on the site as much as we can and our ecologists have been carrying out surveys for a number of years to identify the species living there.
"Common amphibians often get overlooked, but we thought it was worth going the extra mile to save them."
The smooth newt is the most common species of newt in the UK but does not enjoy the same level of legal protection as the much rarer great crested newt.
However, newt numbers are declining because of loss of ponds and surrounding habitat and after discussion with the Environment Agency and the ecologists, Greenbank decided to act to save the Leigh population.
Work on Leigh Sports Village on the Marshall Street site got under way at the beginning of this year with the entire project due for completion in January 2008.
Alongside the sports stadium there will also be a sports hall, swimming pool, new Wigan & Leigh College campus, student housing, running track, hotel, rugby pitch, cinema, restaurants and a fitness centre.
http://www.leightoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=69&ArticleID=1721738
A population of the smooth variety of amphibians have been displaced by the current work on the multi-million pound sports complex which is slowly rising from the ground off Atherleigh Way.
The newts lived in three ponds north of Westleigh Brook which has been outlined as the site for the new 10,000 Leigh Centurions and Leigh RMI stadium.
They were discovered by ecologists, working for developers Greenbank, who have spent six weeks catching the newts, frogs and toads which lived in the ponds.
They then moved them to a new site on the south side of Westleigh Brook but to make their home complete, the amphibians need a pond to breed in.
Following discussions with Wigan Council, Greenbank has now got the green light to create the new pond.
Important
John Dennis, Greenbank's project manager, said: "We think it's important to protect all the wildlife on the site as much as we can and our ecologists have been carrying out surveys for a number of years to identify the species living there.
"Common amphibians often get overlooked, but we thought it was worth going the extra mile to save them."
The smooth newt is the most common species of newt in the UK but does not enjoy the same level of legal protection as the much rarer great crested newt.
However, newt numbers are declining because of loss of ponds and surrounding habitat and after discussion with the Environment Agency and the ecologists, Greenbank decided to act to save the Leigh population.
Work on Leigh Sports Village on the Marshall Street site got under way at the beginning of this year with the entire project due for completion in January 2008.
Alongside the sports stadium there will also be a sports hall, swimming pool, new Wigan & Leigh College campus, student housing, running track, hotel, rugby pitch, cinema, restaurants and a fitness centre.
http://www.leightoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=69&ArticleID=1721738