Atworth wildlife crisis! Residents take action to save the great crested newt

A GROUP of Atworth residents are campaigning to stop further development at a local business park, which they say is having a negative impact on wildlife. 

According to the group, the expansion of buildings at the Atworth Business Park  is threatening the local population of great crested newts, a protected species, whose  habitat is land known locally as the ‘old Dowty playing field’.

Earlier this year, following planning approval by Wiltshire Council, some of the land in the old playing field was lost to an extension of one of the units in the business park. 

Another planning application to expand another unit at the business park – a re-submission of an application turned down last year – is currently awaiting a decision by Wiltshire Council – and residents are urging the council to turn it down again.

From the group, Atworth resident, Karen Skeates, said, “Atworth has a growing population of great crested newts, which are the UK’s largest native newt species, growing up to an impressive adult overall length of 170mm.  They are truly a spectacular sight if you are lucky enough to see one.  

“The species has seen dramatic decline over the last 60 years across Britain despite strict legal protection. This is largely due to the loss of ponds and habitat deterioration. 

“It is therefore something to celebrate that we have a colony in our village, all be it on one of the last open green spaces in the village which is currently subject to a planning application.” 

The ‘old Dowty playing field’, which has no public access, is also a haven for other wild species including grass snakes, frogs, toads, small rodents and insects – and visitors to the area include badgers, foxes, deer, birds of prey, and bats. 

The group continues, “In October 2019, Wiltshire Council was been named the most climate-friendly council in England and Wales by Friends of the Earth. Wiltshire Council has also declared this year that they recognise the climate and ecological emergency we are facing. 

“If Wiltshire Council are serious about making decisions that will contribute to reversing the wildlife extermination crisis across the UK, it is time for them to refuse planning applications such as this, that result in monetary gain for the few at the price of degrading the local biosphere and all it provides for the many.

“Should the go-ahead be given for the unit 8 extension, it will constitute yet more destruction of the nature on which we all depend and possibly indicate a pattern of future building that will end all the rich life found there. It would be an end as this patch of land stands isolated by intensive agriculture to the south, a business park to the east and housing and roads to the north and west.  There is simply no-where else for the ground-living wildlife to go.”

Owners of unit 8, Braemon Holdings, and the planning consultant, PlanningSphere Ltd, were contacted for comment, but a response was not received before going to press.

A decision on the planning application is expected by Thursday 19th December. To view the planning application, visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/planning-new and search with the reference number: 19/06790/FUL