Official statement from Southminster Parish Council from their Facebook page:
Please be advised the previous planning response for application 23/00730/SCR has been withdrawn. The Following response has now been submitted, Southminster Parish Council recommend the REFUSAL of planning permission for the reasons listed below:Southminster Parish Council have considered the application and requests that the applicant provides an Environmental Impact Assessment to the local planning authority. The Council makes this request on the basis that it will ensure the local planning Authority, Maldon District Council makes any decision in the full knowledge of any likely significant environmental effects on the environment. In summary the Council believes that the proposed development is likely to significantly affect the environment with regards its magnitude, spatial extent, intensity, and nature and therefore an EIA should be requested. The Council is particularly concerned with the impact on wildlife, including but not restricted to over wintering and migrating birds, native birds whose populations are in decline, and those that are protected and or on the ‘UK Red List’ species including Bats, Corn Bunting, Marsh Harriers, Montagu’s Harriers, Kites, Buzzards, Swift, House Martin, Ptarmigan, Green Finch, and Barn Owls all of which nest and or forage for food over the application site. It is known that there are Otter and Badger colony’s close to the site and both species cross the site whilst foraging for food and water or seeking to forage elsewhere. Foxes and Muntjac are seen regularly throughout the site. The council brings you attention to the fact that the northern perimeter is bounded by Asheldham Brook, which contains a variety of species including, Otters, Water Voles and Kingfishers. The brook provides a very important source of water for local wild life over a large area. The proposed loss of habit to the South of the brook in relation to this development would be insurmountable and cause irreparable damage to the sustainability of wild life. With the on set of climate change and the loss of other water sources it is important that sustainable water sources are maintained and accessible to wild life. The area of the application site is close to protected areas including the Dengie Marshes Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest as defined by Regulation 2 of the EIA Regulations It is also considered that the loss of highly productive Grade 3 arable farmland for the production of food is unacceptable and unsustainable. With regards to Flora it also understood that several rare species grow withing the hedgerows of the application site and the banks of Asheldham Book these include wild Orchids, Speedwell and Meadow saffron. In summary it is for these reasons that Southminster Parish Council requests that the applicant conducts an EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment)..
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