Post by jonsdigs on Jan 13, 2007 22:52:45 GMT -5
Bypass bats saved
9:43am Friday 12th January 2007
This Is Wiltshire (UK)
By John Ballard
REVISED plans for the Westbury bypass are being prepared to help protect the habitat of rare bats.
Wiltshire County Council submitted an initial application for the controversial scheme in 2005, but during the past year, ecology experts suggested a number of environmental improvements to the project.
These involve further enhancement to the landscape along the route of the bypass to help ensure there are additional hedges, trees and other vegetation, which bats use to navigate their way around the area.
The Wellhead Valley, where the proposed bypass would run, is a haven for wildlife and the area is home to 13 out of 17 species of British bats, dormice, barn owls and water voles.
The county council's planning officer advised the changes to the scheme would require the submission of a revised planning application, and it is anticipated this will be delivered to planners by the middle of next month.
Cllr Fleur de Rhe-Philipe, the cabinet member for environment, transport and economic development, said: "With such a major scheme, it is also important that we get it right and minimise any impact that it might have.
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"This is why we have taken the time to undertake a number of environmental studies."
As well as reducing traffic in Westbury and improving business transport links, the aim of the bypass is to give motorists greater certainty over journey times on the A350.
The revised plans are expected to go before Westbury Town Council sometime in March, although a number of councillors might not take part in the discussion.
In September 2003, Cllrs Mike Pearce, Bill Braid, Russell Hawker, Derek Hulin, Carolyn Los and Christine Mitchell, were not given dispensation by West Wiltshire District Council to speak or vote on the issue because they have prejudicial interests in the bypass.
It is up to the individual councillor to decide whether or not they have a prejudicial interest, so they could still speak and vote, but run the risk of a complaint being made that could lead to an investigation by the standards board.
Westbury's town clerk Les Fry has approached the district council to ask for clarification and any changes on who may or may not have dispensation.
Article
9:43am Friday 12th January 2007
This Is Wiltshire (UK)
By John Ballard
REVISED plans for the Westbury bypass are being prepared to help protect the habitat of rare bats.
Wiltshire County Council submitted an initial application for the controversial scheme in 2005, but during the past year, ecology experts suggested a number of environmental improvements to the project.
These involve further enhancement to the landscape along the route of the bypass to help ensure there are additional hedges, trees and other vegetation, which bats use to navigate their way around the area.
The Wellhead Valley, where the proposed bypass would run, is a haven for wildlife and the area is home to 13 out of 17 species of British bats, dormice, barn owls and water voles.
The county council's planning officer advised the changes to the scheme would require the submission of a revised planning application, and it is anticipated this will be delivered to planners by the middle of next month.
Cllr Fleur de Rhe-Philipe, the cabinet member for environment, transport and economic development, said: "With such a major scheme, it is also important that we get it right and minimise any impact that it might have.
Advertisement continued...
"This is why we have taken the time to undertake a number of environmental studies."
As well as reducing traffic in Westbury and improving business transport links, the aim of the bypass is to give motorists greater certainty over journey times on the A350.
The revised plans are expected to go before Westbury Town Council sometime in March, although a number of councillors might not take part in the discussion.
In September 2003, Cllrs Mike Pearce, Bill Braid, Russell Hawker, Derek Hulin, Carolyn Los and Christine Mitchell, were not given dispensation by West Wiltshire District Council to speak or vote on the issue because they have prejudicial interests in the bypass.
It is up to the individual councillor to decide whether or not they have a prejudicial interest, so they could still speak and vote, but run the risk of a complaint being made that could lead to an investigation by the standards board.
Westbury's town clerk Les Fry has approached the district council to ask for clarification and any changes on who may or may not have dispensation.
Article