Letter: 'Climate action consistency needed not building on woodland'

Yet so often our politicians seem to be hypocritical or out of touch on this topic. In Bishop's Waltham Parish for example, the latest housing development plans prioritise building on pristine native regenerated woodland to the north of Rareridge Lane. 

This woodland has grown up over more than 20 years from previous agricultural land and a former Christmas tree plantation.

Now it supports probably one of the richest and most diverse habitats in the parish. Why therefore is it chosen as an ideal site for building houses?

The consultation was minimal and hardly publicised, it supports a range of insects, mammals and invertebrates (including firecrests, mistletoe thrush, bullfinch and nuthatches, slow worms and grass snakes, and hedgehogs and bats).

It is hard to understand how the loss of a woodland  can deliver a biodiversity net gain or protect and enhance the diversity of the natural environment as  as stated in the Local Plan.

So let’s do more than ‘talk a good talk’ and  change our habits, planning, and policies to act for wildlife in a an honest and meaningful way. We need to challenge our politicians on their inconsistency in the response to the climate emergency and environmental protection, especially in their planning decisions.

Jos Creese,

Rareridge Lane,

Bishop's Waltham 

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