Marsh House Bridge Planning Ecology Statement – ecology DRAFT Borough Council October 2013

Quality Management

Job No Doc No. 1

Project Marsh House Bridge Planning Statement

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Document 1 Ref

File reference L:\\Marsh House Bid Document\ Part 2|Section 5\Planning Appilcation\Ecology Planning Statement 2009.doc

Date October 2013

Prepared by Colin Jenkins Signature (for file)

Checked by Signature (for file)

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Contents

Contents

1. Introduction 1 1.1 Legislative context 1 1.2 Local Planning Policies 1 2. Site Description 2 2.1 Site Location 2 2.2 Protected sites 2 2.3 Habitats 2 2.4 Protected Species 4 3. References 7

1. Introduction Warrington Borough Council have undertaken an ecological assessment based on survey findings of the existing Marsh House Bridge located at adjacent to Fiddlers Ferry Boat Yard off Station Road , Warrington, for inclusion in the submission of an outline planning application for proposals of the new bascule bridge which will be an on-line replacement.

Warrington Borough Council is seeking outline planning permission to incorporate a new bascule bridge in an attempt to restore the St Helens . Proposals comprise a bascule bridge with associated access arrangements. The existing bridge that had been destroyed has been replaced by a temporary bridge is within the proposal site boundary; however, this is due to be removed in February 2014 once the new bascule bridge is installed which is subject to funding until December 2013.

1.1 LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT

Relevant UK wildlife and nature conservation legislation includes the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended), the Hedgerow Regulations (1997), the Countryside Rights of Way Act (2000), the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006 and Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 9.

The NERC Act 2006 states that “every public body must, in exercising its functions have regard, so far as is consistent with the proper exercise of those functions, to the purpose of conserving biodiversity”.

PPS 9 states that the Government’s objectives for planning are to “to conserve, enhance and restore the diversity of England’s wildlife and geology by sustaining, and where possible improving, the quality and extent of natural habitat and geological sites; the natural physical processes on which they depend; and the populations of naturally occurring species which they support”. In addition, the government has indicated that local authorities should take steps to further the conservation of Habitats and Species Of Principal Importance through their planning function (PPS 9 ODPM Circular, 2005)

The aims of this report are: 1) to detail habitats, flora and fauna recorded during an ecological assessment undertaken by TEP throughout 2008 of the proposed development area, with particular attention given to habitats that have the potential to support protected or otherwise notable species; 2) to recommend mitigation and enhancement proposals which will enable the development to proceed in full compliance with relevant wildlife and nature conservation legislation.

1.2 LOCAL PLANNING POLICIES

Local planning polices from the Warrington Borough Council Unitary Development Plan (2006) relevant to this assessment comprise: • GRN 10 Protection and Enhancement of Urban Greenspace; • GRN 18 Key Biodiversity Habitats and Priority Species; • GRN 20 Wildlife Corridors; • GRN 21 Protection of Nature Conservation Resource; • GRN 22 Protection and Enhancement of Landscape Features;

2. Site Description

2.1 SITE LOCATION The proposed development site is on the existing bridge which is situated approximately 6 miles west of Warrington Town Centre. The site is located within an industrial estate area bordered to the north by A562 Warrington Road with predominantly industrial units beyond; to the south of bridge is the ; to the west the Fiddlers Ferry Boat Yard; to the east the disused St Helens Canal continues towards our boundary with Halton.

The proposed development site is approximately 0.1ha in size with a mosaic of habitats comprising predominantly weed beds, semi-improved neutral grassland, and scattered broad-leaved trees and scrub, standing water, St Helens Canal, in addition to buildings and hard standing.

2.2 PROTECTED SITES There are no statutory or non-statutory designated sites within 1 km of the proposed development area.

The land within the survey area is predominantly allocated an Urban Green Space (local planning policy GRN 10) within a wildlife corridor (local planning policy GRN 20), however, development proposals aim to regenerate the disused canal for future navigational use, enhance the visual amenity, in addition to the community value of the area whilst retaining biodiversity features of importance and enhancing further habitats.

At the most western boundary of the site at the boundary with Halton Council, the existing tow path is being upgraded to provide a cycle route link from Halton to Warrington. There will be no loss of green space will the proposals at the existing bridge location. The existing wildlife corridor along St Helens Canal will be enhanced through native tree planting, deepening and widening of selected sections, in addition to removal of significant proportions of accumulated litter and water quality improvements. A small corridor of rough unimproved grassland and weed bed will be retained bordering the west of the site.

Further enhancements across the site, through incorporation of UK and Cheshire BAP habitats, will increase the overall biodiversity. These enhancements are discussed within this document.

2.3 HABITATS

The existing habitats will remain.

2.3.1 AMENITY GRASSLAND/WEED BED Amenity grassland is the predominant habitat across the proposed development site. The habitat is species poor and offers very little in terms of biodiversity value as it is currently managed.

Although a habitat of low biodiversity value, the area of grass land and weed bed will be retained to the west of the proposed bridge. Conservation management of these areas would contribute to the UK

Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Priority Habitat, Lowland Meadows and the Cheshire BAP habitat unimproved grassland.

2.3.2 BROAD-LEAVED SCATTERED TREES AND SCRUB Broad-leaved trees are located predominantly to the west of the site, with scattered trees to the west of the site which are not dense and therefore provide no important foraging and potential roosting habitat for bats, in addition to an ideal habitat for breeding birds.

All mature trees with bat roost potential will be retained in the proposed development; however, an additional survey prior to any works will be required to determine if any mitigation, such as sympathetic lighting proposals will be required in the month of February 2014.

Scattered trees and scrub in the area proposed for boat mooring at the southwest corner of the bridge will be removed. However, additional planting of trees across the remainder of the site will compensate for the loss of these habitats.

2.3.3 SEMI-IMPROVED NEUTRAL GRASSLAND The grassland to the sides of the canal have in the past been left unmanaged and has grown into a denser, yet still relatively species-poor semi-improved neutral grassland. The same grassland aligns St Helens Canal and sections of the southern west and east boundary. All are considered important for invertebrates.

Under appropriate conservation management, the semi-improved neutral grassland will contribute to the Cheshire BAP local priority habitat, Unimproved Grassland. Although a large proportion of the semi-improved neutral grassland habitat is not losted to the development, additional planting of more species rich grasslands could also be planted and log piles will be introduced to retain the tow path. Both these habitats are considered beneficial for invertebrates. All these measures are included to compensate for the loss of semi-improved neutral grassland.

2.3.4 STANDING WATER – POND The disused canal on site is currently shallow, with little open water. Species present include Common Reed (Phragmites australis). A combination of field surveys and information provided by site rangers recorded Dragonflies, the UKBAP priority species, the Common Toad (Bufo bufo), in addition to the Common Eel (Anguilla anguilla) (recorded in 2002) and birds were recorded using the pond. There was no evidence of the European Protected Species Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus).

Ponds are a locally important UKBAP and Cheshire BAP habitat. In addition, Common reed reedbeds are a UKBAP Priority Habitat. With appropriate management the pond and reedbed habitats have the potential to support a diverse range of flora and fauna. Proposals for the pond include reprofiling the soft banks, with a gradual gradient, selective management of the Common Reed, in addition to selective planting of native species with high ecological value, such as Water Mint (Mentha aquatica), Brooklime (Veronica beccabunga) or Water Forget Me Not (Myosotis scorpioides).

Proposals for swales and scrapes along the southern boundary of St Helens Canal will provide ecologically important habitats, in addition to flood attenuation. The swales will be lined due to the contaminated nature of the topsoil, but planting with native species considered to have high ecological

value, such as Water Mint (Mentha aquatica), Brooklime (Veronica beccabunga) or Water Forget Me Not (Myosotis scorpioides) are proposed. In addition, their position within 5 m of the existing waterway will provide an important habitat corridor for invertebrates and amphibians.

2.3.5 INVASIVE PLANTS

There is no Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) present within the proposed development site boundary.

Japanese Knotweed is listed under section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) making it an offence to plant or otherwise cause growth of the species across sites where it is located.

Local planning policy GRN26 states that development proposals should take into account the control of invasive weeds.

2.3.6 FLOWING WATER – ST HELENS CANAL

St Helens Canal runs from west to east through the site, being bridged. Vegetation along the canal is limited and the water quality is currently poor with a large proportion of fly tipping.

The brook acts as a wildlife corridor on site providing linkage from the Halton boundaries to the west to the Warrington townships to the east. Future proposals to enhance the canal will be help by the proposal of scheme that include dredging to deepen and widen sections of the channel, helping alleviate the risk of flooding, whilst providing potential habitats for Water Voles (Arvicola terrestris), improvements to water quality, in addition to native planting of species considered of high ecological value, such as Water Mint, Brooklime and Water Forget Me Not within the channel, with further planting on the banks.

2.4 PROTECTED SPECIES The desk based survey indicated historical records of the Great Crested Newt, the Water Vole and bat species around the area, however, none from the proposed development site boundary.

2.4.1 GREAT CRESTED NEWTS A habitat suitability assessment of the pond indicated the pond was considered to be poor quality to support Great Crested Newts. Torchlight and egg search surveys provided no evidence for the species within the canal section, therefore, it is considered that great crested newts were not present at the time of survey.

Canals are a locally important UK and Cheshire BAP habitat, therefore, reprofiling the natural banks to soft banking with a gradual gradient, in addition to management of the invasive Common Reed and Reedmace with additional planting of species such as Water Mint or Brooklime will improve the habitat quality of the pond for amphibians, birds and invertebrates. The inclusion of log piles around the pond will further enhance this habitat as sheltering features for a range of amphibian species.

2.4.2 BADGERS There are no field signs (setts, latrines, snuffle holes, footprints of scratch posts) of badgers across the proposed development site.

2.4.3 BATS There are no signs of transient roost was observed. Additional surveys will be required to ascertain the use of the site by bats with appropriate mitigation proposed and development licences applied for if this is necessary following surveys.

As discussed, bats are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981), the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended) and are a UK and Cheshire BAP Priority species. Mature trees with the potential to support roosting bats were identified to the south west of the site.

Retention of the mature trees, enhancement of potential foraging and commuting habitat through tree planting across the site, in addition to the use of sympathetic lighting across the site (or no lighting in some areas where possible) and the inclusion of bat boxes will improve the habitat availability for the protected species.

Additional bat surveys are required on trees identified as having bat roost potential prior to any development within the proposed development site boundary to determine if mitigation is required.

In addition, future proposals will remove the temporary bridge on the site. It is strongly recommended that prior to any bridge removal that bat survey is undertaken to determine if bats use them.

2.4.4 WATER VOLES St Helens Canal runs from west to east across through the site, being bridged by a bridge that is almost twice the width but the same length of the existing bridge.

Surveys indicated suitable and potential habitat for the Water Vole. As the Water Vole and its habitat are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and the species is a Priority UK and Cheshire BAP species, a validation survey is recommended prior to any works being undertaken to establish the presence/absence of the species.

There are proposals to deepen and widen sections of St Helens Canal in order to enhance the habitat, in addition to increase the flood storage capacity. Suitable planting, reprofiling of the banks and improvements to the water quality will enhance the habitat availability for the Water Vole, in addition to invertebrates.

2.4.5 BIRDS No breeding bird survey was undertaken as part of the ecological assessment surveys, however, incidental observations, with additional information provided by Warrington Borough Council indicated the following species (asterisked species were confirmed breeding by the presence of young, and UKBAP denotes a UK BAP bird species using the park.

Mute Swan* Great Tit Black-Headed Gull Long Tailed Tit Moorhen Blue Tit

Great Spotted Woodpecker Chaffinch Robin Blackbird* Greenfinch Magpie House Sparrow UKBAP Mallard* Coot* Dunnock UKBAP Wood Pigeon Little Grebe* Swallow Swift Buzzard Kestrel Sparrowhawk

Proposals for additional trees linking existing vegetation, in addition to the management of the canal and inclusion of bird boxes, with particular focus for the two UKBAP species, the Mute Swan, will enhance the available habitat for breeding birds. The proposals for inclusion of a man-made roof on the tow path, in addition to potential green roofs with a neutral grassland seed mixture will provide alternative habitats for the raptor species, which will be free from human disturbance. However, breeding birds and their nests are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), so they should not be disturbed during the bird breeding season (generally March to September).

2.5 SUMMARY

There are no statutory or non-statutory protected sites within 1 km of the site. There are a variety of habitats on site predominantly comprising amenity grassland, semi-improved neutral grassland with scattered broad-leaved trees, scrub, a canal.

Amenity grassland, considered to be of low ecological value, and the semi-improved neutral grassland are the two main habitats that will be lost to the proposed development. Although the semi-improved neutral grassland supports raptor species, proposals for green roofs along the tow path will provide a compensatory habitat free from human disturbance for the species.

The retention of trees considered to have potential for bats, a European and UK protected and priority UK and Cheshire BAP species and the retention and enhancement of existing habitats that contribute to the UK and Cheshire Biodiversity Action Plans, will increase the biodiversity across the site. Habitats to be retained and/or enhanced include the canal, the the scattered broadleaved trees.

Proposals for additional biodiversity enhancements include the incorporation of one UK and Cheshire BAP habitats, cleanup and improvements to St Helens Canal, in addition to the inclusion of bird and bat boxes and log piles.

Although green space will be lost to the development at Orford Park, the proposals for ecological improvements will enhance and improve the existing site’s biodiversity by creating and enhancing ecologically valuable habitats as opposed to the current predominance of species poor amenity and neutral grassland green space.

3. References

Planning Policy Statement 9 (2005). Biodiversity and Geological Conservation. Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

PPS 9 ODPM Circular, (2005). Government Circular: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation – Statutory Obligations and their impact within the planning system.

Warrington Borough Council Unitary Development Plan (2006).

Title: Marsh House Bridge, Sankey Canal, Penketh, Ecological Assessment Parsley Woods ‐ Tattenhall

Marsh House Bridge November 2013

Report No: {JCE/EA/11X113

Compiled by: { Jeff Clarke Approved: {JCE Principal

Ecology Specialists 36 The Park, Warrington, WA5 2SG 01925 790753 07837690612

www.jeffclarkeecology.co.uk

Marsh House Bridge: Sankey Canal, Penketh ‘Ecoological Assessment Survey’ Nov 2013

Contents

1. Introduction

2. Legislation

3. Field Survey and Results

4. Desktop Data Search and Results

5. Proposed Working Practices and Methodologies

6. Conclusion

7. Appendix: Site Photographs

1. Introduction On 6th November 2013 Jeff Clarke Ecology was appointed to undertake an ecological assessment of planned works for the repair of Marsh House Bridge on the Sankey Canal at Penketh, Warrington, Grid reference SJ559864. This followed a collapse of the original bridge in September 2013. In the interim period an emergency replacement bridge had been put in place, but this is inadequate in design and durability for the current and future use of the bridge by local businesses in the industrial estate and marina.

As a result the local authority had purchased the bridge crossing from the estate of the Duchy of Lancaster with the intention of installing a ‘bascule’ type bridge, the designs for which are lodged with the planning dept at Warrington Borough Council. The bascule bridge design is intended to provide ingress and egress for future boat traffic along the canal in the event of its re‐opening to boat traffic. (Halton Borough Council and Warrington Borough Council are both currently supporting a proposal from S.C.A.R.S. on the ‘Linking the Locks’ project).

Due to tight time scales and planning requirements a quick turnaround on the ecological assessment and report were required. To aid the process a meeting with the Officer responsible for the bridge repair, Colin Jenkins, was undertaken on the 7th November 2013. The meeting covered a number of items and had a number of functions connected to the potential ecological impacts of the bridge repair and these are discussed in detail within the report.

The bridge repair plot covers a significant permanent water feature in the form of the Sankey Canal. The section of the canal affected by the bridge repair is not currently navigable but the canal itself has, over many years, been a valuable biodiversity resource and is home to a wide range of rare, scarce, or threatened species with specific wetland habitat requirements. The Canal is designated as a Local Wildlife Site and holds species with the potential to be impacted to a greater or lesser degree, including Water Vole Arvicola amphibious, Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus, Water Rail Rallus aquaticus, and European Eel Anguilla anguilla. These and other species were considered during the formulation of the recommendations contained in this report

2. LEGISLATION

Only those species where the repair works have the potential to impact directly or permanently are considered:

Water Vole Arvicola amphibious Water voles are currently declining at a rapid rate. Until the 6th April 2008 water voles had some protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), this includes protection from killing or taking by certain prohibited methods and their breeding and resting places being fully protected from destruction or obstruction, it is also an offence to disturb them in these places. From April 2008 water voles and their resting places are fully protected in England, it is an offence to deliberately, capture, injure or kill them or to damage, destroy or obstruct their breeding or resting places. It will continue to be an offence to disturb them in their breeding or resting places. For full details of legal protection always refer to the primary legislation and subsequent amendments.

Development works affecting water voles When development or maintenance work is proposed in or near an area which is either known to or likely to contain water voles Natural England recommend the following course of action:

Establish whether water voles are present in and adjacent to the area by a combination of field surveys and consultation with location records centres or other holders of environmental data.

If water voles are present in the area then consider whether proposals can be amended to ensure that the work does not result in an offence i.e. does not result in disturbance to water voles or result in loss of water vole burrows etc. If this is not possible then consideration is needed as to how the impacts on water voles can be reduced or whether action could be taken to remedy the adverse effects.

If, after the above considerations, the development or maintenance work is to proceed and the impact to water voles cannot reasonably be avoided, then the developer will need to rely on the incidental result defence having made a judgement as to whether his actions are covered by that provision.

Planning decision Where the proposed development or maintenance work requires planning permission we would expect the local planning authority to have regard for the need to conserve water voles, as required by section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, in reaching their planning decision. As a protected species, water voles are a material planning consideration, as described in PPS9, so planning authorities should ensure they have adequate information about the water voles before determining a planning application.

Use of the incidental result defence This defence provides for the carrying out of lawful operations from which some harm to the species that would otherwise be an offence is caused as an incidental result that could not reasonably have been avoided. This therefore requires that attention is paid to the presence of water voles and, as far as is reasonable, appropriate action is taken to safeguard the animals and the places they use for shelter and protection. Ultimately only a court can decide what is reasonable and to what extent adverse impacts might have been reasonably avoided in any set of circumstances and Natural England cannot provide legal advice.

European Eel Anguilla anguilla is a priority listed species and was formerly covered under the UK BAP system which has now been superseded ‘UK Post‐2010 Biodiversity Framework’ this contains no specific advice regarding European Eel conservation in the context of development but advises that Local Authorities and Developers should be mindful of best practice when carrying out works which may impact upon the species.

No bird species are impacted with regard to breeding and as the proposed works are limited in nature and scope and any impacts are negligible and temporary, no legislative infringements or implications are considered likely for this development.

3. Field Survey Methodology & Results

Early on the 7th November in good weather conditions a search of the habitats surrounding the site of the proposed bridge repair was undertaken. As part of this process any signs of Water Vole activity, the species most likely to be directly impacted by this development, were searched for extensively. This included entering the reedbed on the western side of the current temporary bridge structure and slowly and carefully examining for any physical signs of Water Vole presence e.g. latrines; feeding remains; burrows etc. The reedbed was searched along the north and southern banks for a distance of 30 metres from the bridge. No signs of Water Vole presence were found, though there was plenty of evidence of Field Vole Microtus agrestis and a large mustelid species, probably American Mink Neovison vison , making extensive use of the area.

The reedbed on the Sankey Canal immediately west of Marsh House Bridge

Immediately east of the bridge site there is no suitable habitat for Water Vole as there is virtually no vegetation and the canal banks are solid and bare stone.

During the survey Reed Buntings were noted in the area on several occasions commuting between the reedbed habitat and adjacent areas to both the north and south of the canal.

On the day of the survey the surface of the canal was mirror calm and the water itself was crystal clear allowing good visibility in the search for fish, amphibians and freshwater invertebrates. Using high quality optics it was possible to see a few small freshwater beetles but nothing of note was observed.

To back‐up the field survey a search of biological records was carried out by RECORD as requested by WBC planning dept.

4. Desktop Data Search Methodology & Results

On the 7th November 2013 RECORD (Local Biological Record Centre) was requested to carry out a data search for protected and UKBAP species relevant to the bridge repair work. This included Water Vole, Otter Lutra lutra, European Eel. As it is not the breeding season for birds these records were not requested but relevant data for winter presence of important UK species such as Reed Bunting, Water Rail and European Bittern is available from Jeff Clarke Ecology who carried out the most recent winter survey work 2009/10 for birds on that stretch of the Sankey Canal. Examination of this data showed just a single record of Reed Bunting present during the survey in the Fiddlers Ferry Marina – Marsh Lane stretch of the canal on the 01/01/10. It should be noted that Reed Bunting are currently present in reasonable numbers in the reedbed stretch from Fiddlers Ferry Marina to Marsh Lane. This is in contrast to the winter survey of 2009/10 when weather conditions were considerably harsher during the survey period.

Following consultation with WBC’s Natural Environment Officer Helen Lacy it was proposed to data search an area up to 50m either side of the bridge site on a linear profile. This was done as requested and returned just a single record within the zone for Water Vole. However this record dated from 1993 and as this is not a recent record is not considered relevant for the purposes of this survey.

This result was communicated to Helen Lacy and it was agreed that the production of a report and map detailing zero records is considered superfluous in this circumstance.

5. Proposed Working Practices and Methodologies

The on‐site meeting with Colin Jenkins on the 7th Nov 2013 focused on the likely impacts upon the protected species and Species of Conservation Concern most relevant to the bridge repair requirements and examined the best practice to mitigate those impacts.

Given the lack of evidence to support the presence of an extant Water Vole population in the immediate environs of the bridge repair site the most important aspect to address was the integrity of the water flow through the canal. Water flows from the Fiddlers Ferry Power Station through to the Fiddlers Ferry Marina. Any break in this water flow would result in the marina channel draining down with the possible loss of fish stocks, including European Eels.

As part of the process the canal will be temporarily dammed to the west of the bascule bridge location and the water drained from the bed to the permanent weir, which is situated a few metres east of the bridge site.

This will allow the bridge repair and replacement works to be carried out in a timely manner. Build time is estimated at 6‐8 weeks with construction completed before the end of March 2014.

In the interim period the integrity of the water flow to the downstream sections of the canal will be secured by over‐pumping via the installation of a 750mm pipe (see agreed Action 2 below)

Though the risk of significantly impacting upon protected reedbed species is negligible it is considered good practice to reduce this likely impact further by undertaking a preparatory

strimming back of the reedbed vegetation. To this end a 5m section of reedbed will be strimmed prior to the on‐site construction works begin and this area will be maintained in good strimmed condition for the duration of the build. (See Action Point 3 below ).

At the conclusion of the build all materials and equipment including dredged silt debris from the canal bed beneath the bridge site, will be removed and the site returned to good order. (See action point 1)

• Action No 1. Warrington Council will continue to site clear the canal within the extents of the works say 15m measured from the weir wall alongside the east elevation of the bridge.

• Action No 2 Warrington Council will use the 750mm diameter plastic fume pipe to feed water/wild life into the marina when the dam is in operation.

• Action No 3 Warrington Council will continue to cut back the reed bed to a distance of 5m from the western face of the temporary dam walling.

diagramatic plan of environmental mitigation proposals

If all of the above agreed measures are adhered to then the risk to both the integrity of the canal and to negative impacts upon protected species will be satisfactorily mitigated.

6. Conclusion

The Sankey Canal is home to a diverse range of important European protected and UK BAP species. The bascule Bridge construction on the site of a recently collapsed bridge may have a small potential impact upon some of those species, notably European Eel and Water Vole as well as reedbed specialist birds such as Water Rail and Reed Bunting.

Most critically the bridge construction could impact on the integrity of the water flow through the canal.

A series of mitigation measures are proposed in this report to eliminate the risk to the protected species and to secure the water flow for the duration of the construction process. If the agreed working practices outlined in the report are followed then no impact upon protected species and to the canal water flow will result from this bridge replacement process.

In the event of incidental damage to protected species the authority is within its rights to apply an ‘incidental defence’ as it can demonstrate that it has undertaken all reasonable measures to avoid damaging protected species populations throughout the development process.

The survey and report was conducted and completed by:

Jeff Clarke Independent Consultant Ecologist

11/11/2013

1. Appendix: Site Photographs The following photographs were taken on the 7th November at the Marsh House Bridge

site Temporary damning materials at Marsh House Bridge 7th Nov 2013

Water flow Pipe and temporary beaver bridge 7th Nov 2013