Snoasis Concern - Protected wildlife in the proposed SnOasis site

Protected wildlife on the SnOasis site

The proposed SnOasis site is rich in wildlife. Far from the derelict eyesore that the developers repeatedly refer to, the proposed site is teeming with wildlife, some of it vary rare and protected by both English and EU law. As it is rarely visited by people, it has become home to over 100 species of birds; deer; foxes; small mammals; over 20 badger setts; nationally protected great crested newts and bats. Of particular interest is the extremely rare and EU protected pond bat.

The pond at the Snoasis Development Site

The endangered Pond Bat. The pond bat is extremely rare, is internationally protected and only roughly 10,000 exist worldwide. Its normal habitat is in Central and Eastern Europe, so it is very unusual in the UK. One of the world's leading experts on bats, Dr Robert Stebbings, submitted a report to the SnOasis Planning Committee explaining "The importance of the discovery in Britain of this species cannot be underestimated....I have personally been searching for the species in East Anglia since 1957."

Dr Stebbings is recognised internationally for his research and studies of bats and points out that bat species are are all very sensitive to light. Any lighting, for example, from roads, car parks, paths or light emanating from buildings will affect the way bats live. Even small amounts of light will alter behaviour patterns and ultimately can affect their survival. The pond bat feeds exclusively over water. They use two main techniques while foraging for food - they will trawl, which is to grab an insect off the top of the water with their feet, or they will hunt down their prey a few metres above the water or onto the land with a technique called aerial hawking. Pond bats will also pick up insects off the surface of the water using the membrane of their wing.

In his submission to Mid Suffolk Councillors, Dr Stebbings drew their attention to the rarity of the protected pond bat and its extreme sensitivity to changes on the site such as construction and the light pollution of the complex. Sadly his report was ignored by councillors in making their decision over SnOasis. However, his research cannot be dismissed so lightly as English Nature are required to give their consent before planning approval can be given. An EU protected species cannot simply told to go and live on a few acres of farmland as an alternative. This is another area in which a Public Inquiry into all of the issues relating to SnOasis should be examined.

Badgers. This SnOasis site is home to at least 20 families of badgers. They are shy, secretive, fiercely territorial and can be aggressive. Their habitat will be completely destroyed by turning the area into one massive construction site. The developer has said he proposes to either rehouse them or allow them to run free and forage among the holiday chalets ! So ill judged is the rehousing scheme that a local newspaper's environmental columnist suggested that rather than attempting to move the badgers from the proposed golf course, the developer would probably have more success teaching them to play golf !

Great Crested Newts. Great crested newts are Britain’s largest newt species. They spend most of the year around weedy ponds and small lakes - their current home at Gt Blakenham is ideal. They are nocturnal, hiding on land during the day in burrows or under logs, stones and vegetation. They hibernate, usually on land, between October and late February. Great crested newts have declined within the UK over recent years, due to the destruction and pollution of their breeding sites and terrestrial habitat. They are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Habitat Regulations Act of 1994. It is illegal to catch, possess or handle great crested newts without a licence and it is also illegal to cause them harm or death, or to disturb their habitat in any way. SnOasis could destroy a large population of these protected creatures.

Save this unique habitat for our children and future generations. We should be encouraging this unique wildlife rather than destroying it. Other disused quarries have successfully been turned into wildlife havens to be shared by everyone. Locally, Needham Lakes represents a wonderful addition to the Gipping Valley, used regularly as a leisure resource by thousands of people but in harmony with nature. So it could be at the Masons quarry. This is a truly unique habitat, already largely restored with lakes, mature trees and grassland teeming with wildlife.

The Suffolk Wildlife Trust is very concened about protecting the widldlife at the proposed Snoasis site and has written to Go East to express their concerns. For more in formation please go the their web-site by clicking here

We must save this unique habitat for future generations.