Dear all
I am writing to you because many of your members/readers will have
visited Fineshade Wood for bird watching and I hope you will be able to
publicise a major development threat here. Forest Holidays, supported by the
Forestry Commission, have filed a planning application to use 96 acres of the
Public Forest Estate to create a holiday park with 70 cabins and central
complex. They will build a total of 2 miles of new roads fragmenting a large
block of currently undisturbed woodland and there will be a particular
threat to birds and, even more seriously, adders and other reptiles. There are
no walking or cycling trails crossing the main part of the 96 acre site and it
is currently very difficult to access - that's what makes it so important for
wildlife.
With regard to birds, even the FH environmental consultant recognises
the site's ecological sensitivity. The following extracts are taken from their
very inadequate "Preliminary Ecological Report".
No specific bird surveys
(i.e. Breeding Bird Surveys) were undertaken; this was due to the quantity of
bird data already recorded for the woodland...
Red list species that
have been recorded include: song thrush, tree pipit, yellow hammer, marsh tit,
grasshopper warbler, nightjar, willow tit, skylark and cuckoo. Amber list
species that have been recorded include: dunnock, garden warbler, red kite, redstart,
willow warbler, whitethroat, green woodpecker, bullfinch and mistle thrush...
Therefore... the site is of
at least county importance for birds.
They therefore recommend as mitigation: postponing construction work until the end of the bird-nesting
season, erecting 30 nestboxes and creating new
areas of certain habitats (primarily tussocky grassland and dense scrub)
elsewhere. This will certainly not be compensate for the destruction of
this environmentally sensitive area.
Please can you encourage your members/readers to make an objection
to this development?
The reference number for the application is 14/01156/FUL.
The deadline for objections is 23 July.
or by letter to Planning
comments, East Northants Council, Cedar Drive, Thrapston
NN14 4LZ
Include your name and address (The address will not appear
on the website)
and the reference number 14/01156/FUL and the
word OBJECTION
If those of you who represent groups could object on behalf of a group
it would also be very helpful. It is important for East Northants councillors
and planners to see that there is significant support from outside the area to
counter the claim that this development will increase tourism - in fact it may
put off visitors who vale the wood's environmental richness. Below you will
find some more general information sent out to supporters yesterday. Do please
forward this email on as you think appropriate.
Thank you very much indeed in anticipation of your support
Barrie Galpin
15 Top Lodge, Fineshade, Corby. NN17 3BB
01780-444351
(BTO Regional Representative for Northants)
To everyone who asked to be informed about developments at Fineshade
Wood.
The expected application from Forest Holidays has now arrived. It
is described as:
The erection of 70 cabins and associated buildings and infrastructure
and construction of new access road
The reference number for the application is 14/01156/FUL.
The deadline for objections is 23 July.
This is a very detailed application and all the documents and plans run
to many hundreds of pages.
Here are some particular points from the application:
70 cabins in 96 acres of public land of Fineshade Wood.
2 miles of new vehicle tracks.
Parking spaces for 189 cars.
This part of the Public Forest Estate will be leased by this company for
125 years.
460 mature trees (trunks > 6in. diameter) to be removed for roads and
building construction.
Access will be by means of the existing single track lane from the A43
to Top Lodge.
New forest road to be built from the end of the existing visitor car
park passing very close to Top Lodge residents.
An additional 60 vehicles per hour will be added to the existing
traffic.
Construction traffic will use the single track lane and then the
existing walking track that skirts the north of the site.
Only a preliminary ecological report has been submitted.
Biological surveys are incomplete - both the area surveyed and the time
they were carried out.
Very many notable and protected species reported, showing it
is certainly an environmentally sensitive site.
Site is "of at least county importance for reptiles and
birds".
Partial botanical survey revealed 45 (axiophytes) "worthy plant
species" and 22 Ancient Woodland indicators.
460 trees to be removed for roads and building construction.
We are currently reading all the documents in detail - if you have time
to read any of them and come across anything very important please let us know
(email to fineshade.wood@zen.co.uk) so we can share
them widely. There are two documents that summarise the application:
"Design and Access statement" and "Planning statement"
(particularly section 5.) The other documents deal in much more detail with,
e.g Transport, Ecology, etc.
If you are able to send an objection to the council,
here are some pointers.
Include your name and address (The address will not
appear on the website)
Include the reference number 14/01156/FUL
At the top, use the word objection (or the council may
count it only as a comment)
Indicate why you are qualified to object (e.g "I
have been visiting Fineshade for many years")
Stick to a single issue - we believe the main weaknesses of the
application are access from the A43 and the environmental
sensitivity.
For many of us a short, pithy objection may be the best
approach, as we hope there will be many objections for counsellors to
read
If you have particular expertise and develop a detailed objection
please send us a copy by email.
Your objection should appear on the website within a few days. If it
doesn't please follow it up - several comments were lost on
the previous glamping application.
If you live locally, can you get your Parish Council or Village
Meeting to consider the application and send an objection? Several local
villages in East Northants are listed under "Consultee comments"
on the website. We believe that comments from parishes in Rutland
will be important too. If you would like some help with this, please get
in touch - for example we may be able to attend a parish meeting if
invited.
On behalf of the residents of Fineshade thank you very much
indeed for your help and support
Barrie Galpin
15 Top Lodge, Fineshade, Corby. NN17 3BB
01780-444351
07717-446417
PS Latest on glamping. 57 public comments and 21 consultee comments
have been published (is yours there?) - almost all objecting. East Northants
Council are planning to make a decision in September. We are very hopeful!
or by letter to Planning
comments, East Northants Council, Cedar Drive, Thrapston
NN14 4LZ
15 Top Lodge, Fineshade, Corby. NN17 3BB
01780-444351
07717-446417