BSCG deplores the narrow decision by the CNPA on Boat of Garten Wood development
- Details
- Written by Administrator
- Category: Debates
- Published: 09 January 2011
BSCG deplores the narrow decision by the CNPA board not to refuse the controversial major development in Boat of Garten Wood.
Following the discussions at Boat, RSPB Scotland spokesman Alan Tissiman said: “The capercaillie is an iconic Scottish bird whose population is extremely fragile. We believe that there may be little more than a thousand of these wonderful birds left in Scotland. Strathspey is the last remaining stronghold of the capercaillie and we have a responsibility to ensure that nothing is done that further threatens this endangered species.”
Sharing this view BSCG considers that we cannot afford to be complacent about the future of the capercaillie in Scotland. While any part of the Boat of Garten woodland remains within the settlement boundary the CNPA is failing this magnificent bird that it is well recognized is extremely vulnerable to disturbance.
See CNPA Press Release: Housing development for Boat of Garten deferred - 7th January 2011
BSCG welcomes CNPA refusal of School Wood application
- Details
- Written by Administrator
- Category: Debates
- Published: 09 January 2011
BSCG welcomes the CNPA Board’s unanimous refusal of the flawed application in School Wood, which is an Ancient Woodland Inventory site. However, we remain concerned that School Wood is still threatened by any future housing proposal. BSCG continues to recommend that this irreplaceable native pinewood should not be developed.
CNPA Press Release: Lack of detail means refusal for Nethy development - 7th January 2011
School Wood, Nethy Bridge Planning Application for 30 Houses and 10 House Plots
- Details
- Written by Administrator
- Category: Debates
- Published: 06 January 2011
On Friday 7th January 2011, the Cairngorms National Park Authority is to determine a planning application for 30 houses and 10 house plots in the ancient woodland of School Wood, Nethy Bridge. BSCG has consistently opposed this proposal since it first surfaced in the second draft of Highland Council's Local Plan in 1993. During the development of the now adopted CNPA Local Plan, BSCG argued that the allocation should be removed from the plan, a position that was supported by Scottish Government Reporters in their Report into the Local Plan Inquiry, published in December 2009, which recommended that "there should be a moratorium extending for the lifetime of the local plan on all housing and economic developments in Nethy Bridge, other than on windfall sites that already have detailed planning permission". This recommendation was ignored by the CNPA.
However, BSCG is pleased to note that the CNPA planner's recommendation for the determination on 7th January is for an unequivocal REFUSAL, see:
http://www.cairngorms.co.uk/resource/docs/boardpapers/07012011/
CNPA.Paper.3986.Planning%20Committee.Paper.2.School..pdf
This CNPA Report makes clear that "outline planning permission included requirements for the provision of "landscaping proposals including existing trees to be maintained and proposed tree and shrub planting to be carried out" (condition no. 1 C); "proposals for the management and maintenance of all areas ....outwith house curtilages" (condition no. 5); "detailed proposals for the disposal of all surface water drainage from all parts of the development" (condition no. 6); and “a programme of archaeological work for the preservation and recording of any archaeological features affected by the proposed development” (condition no. 14)." The CNPA planners emphasise that: "None of that required information has been submitted."
BSCG has submitted objections to this present application in School Wood. Our main objection is that the proposal is in conflict with the Cairngorms National Park Plan and Local Plan and with the CNPA Supplementary Planning Guidance on Natural Heritage and that it conflicts with all 4 aims of the National Park and runs contrary to the European Habitats Directive. Our other objection is that this application for full planning consent is not even consistent with the outline planning consent, which was for 20 houses and 20 house plots. Rather this application attempts to maximise the profits for the developer by suggesting 30 houses and 10 house plots in the application
Briefly, this is a wholly unacceptable planning application that runs counter to numerous National Park policies, does not abide by the outline consent, and has not been accompanied by any of the information required by the CNPA.
The Scotsman: Natural defence against Cairngorms housing plan
- Details
- Written by Administrator
- Category: Debates
- Published: 05 January 2011
See Natural defence against Cairngorms housing plan. "RED squirrels and capercaillie could block plans to build houses in a village in the Cairngorms National Park..."
Crested tit at Boat of Garten wood where this protected pinewood bird was found nesting in 2010. The lack of breeding bird surveys by the developer has been criticised by local objectors.
Smooth newt at Boat of Garten wood. The lack of any survey of amphibians or reptiles by the developers has been criticised by local objectors. BSCG reported both palmate and smooth newt within the Boat of Garten development site in 2010.
Springtail discoveries anticipated
- Details
- Written by Administrator
- Category: Insects
- Published: 08 November 2010
There are a few hundred kinds of springtails recorded from the UK but we do not even know of an educated guess for the numbers of different kinds currently living in the soil under our feet in Badenoch and Strathspey. As with much of the biodiversity around us there is a lot to learn.
Famously in August 2009 BSCG member Tim Ransom found the first member of the species of springtail Bourletiella viridescens for Britain. For those not seeking to aspire to add a new kind of creature to the British list but simply developing an interest in macro-photography, springtails provide an interesting challenge and are still around in the soil in winter.
This winter a few members are starting work on a preliminary key to the identification of our local springtails. Needless to say Tim described by the Scotsman as an “eagle-eyed expert” is the enthusiast behind this project on these little and also little appreciated creatures. His experience that includes producing another such local key will be invaluable.
Bourletiella viridescens has not been rediscovered on Cairn Gorm this year and unfortunately some specialists, who had hoped to come and look for it and other species on Cairn Gorm, failed to raise the funding they needed to visit. The iconic local springtail has however been adopted as the logo for a popular and widely distributed newsletter about Invertebrates in Scotland the second edition of which is now available as a pdf from Buglife Scotland.
Now that we have started looking hopefully we can add to understanding about the very little explored biodiversity of springtails we have. We can expect there to be more kinds in our district waiting to be recorded and who knows what interesting new discoveries? All springtail photos will be gratefully received and If you are interesting in becoming involved in the springtail (Collembola) spotting project don’t hesitate to phone 01479 821 491.
The now relatively famous Bourletiella viridescens, blown up to look much larger than 1mm, from an article shortly after the unexpected discovery published in Sepetember 2009 in the Scotsman newspaper.