Guy Robinson
From: Archer, Richard
Importance: High
Dear Guy
I'm emailing to seek clarification about where we are in the peat policy development process, further consultation and key remaining milestones. We haven't had any further discussion with you since the disappointing workshop several months ago, and are con cerned to remain in the communication loop.We understand, for example, that you may have recently proposed an amended peat policy, although we have not received any information ourselves.
Shortly, the RSPB and the Somerset Wildlife Trust will submit to you a joint summary of our current views on the draft peat policy. However, in order to make our comments more relevant it would be helpful to know whether you have progressed the proposed draft peat policy that you presented briefly at the workshop.
Both the Trust and the RSPB have taken national advice to help inform our views on the draft policy as it stand in the draft plan. We have been given clear instruction that we cannot accept any conditions which would allow time extensions to existing peat planning permissions under any circumstances. I would imagine that this may put us in opposition to some other stakeholders. I will write to you in full with our views this week.
In the meantime, the RSPB wishes to make a formal environmental information request to you as the mineral planning authority for Somerset, which I understand you will need to respond to within twenty days. We wish to have access to data on all existing peat planning permissions in the county, including the following details for each permission:
Planning permission number Area of planning permission Location, including mapped site boundary and central national grid reference Company ownership Permission start and end dates Restoration conditions agreed Afteruse conditions Status within a designated nature conservation site (present/absent from the Natura 2000 site, Ramsar site, SSSSI (by name), County Wildlife Site(s) and nature reserve Information on any previous ROMP review Information on when next ROMP review is to take place Information on whether a Habitats Regulation review has taken place or is in progress, and/or details of when this will happen Outstanding environmental issues on each permission.
It would be helpful to us to have this information provided in spreadhseet form and with GIS layers of relevant information.
We look forward to hearing from you shortly.
Yours sincerely
Richard Archer Somerset & Severn Wetlands Conservation Officer Mobile: 07766 726127
1
RSPB South West Regional Office, Keble House, Southernhay Gardens, Exeter EX1 1NT rspb.org.uk
2 Council Service ref: ENV 1180 Date of request: 28/10/13 Date clarification received: 12/11/13 Due date of response: 10/12/13 Actual Date of response: 13/12/13
Dear xxxx
I am writing in reply to your recent request for information to Somerset County Council, which we have dealt with under the provisions of the Environmental Information Regs. You made a request and, after clarification, we undertook to supply the following information on permitted peat sites that lie within a Natura 2000 designation. I am sorry this has taken so long. Planning permission number (this will not include all permission numbers associated with the site) Area of planning permission Site location (central national grid reference) A map showing peat sites in the Natura 2000 designation areas. Company ownership (where data protection rules allow) Permission start and end dates Status within a designated nature conservation site (present/absent from the Natura 2000 site, Ramsar site, SSSSI (by name), County Wildlife Site(s) and nature reserve Date of previous ROMP review Date when next ROMP review is to take place Information on whether a Habitats Regulation review has taken place, is in progress or is intended to be undertaken. I can confirm that we hold this information. I attach the information requested
We are providing an Excel file (containing two sheets) plus 8 maps as PDF files. We are not in a position to share the GIS/shape files because of copyright, bur we hope that the maps will be sufficient. We’ve made our best efforts to collate the information requested in a relatively short period of time and hope that this is helpful. We have not included the names of individuals. Under the Environmental information regulations we are allowed to withhold information in certain cases. In this case the information you request relates to named individuals, and includes personal information. It would not be fair to release this information without the consent of the person supplying the information. We believe that reg 13 applies which relates to personal data and we are refusing to release this information.
If you feel we have not answered your request in sufficient detail or if you wish to clarify the information, please contact me and I will be happy to help.
If you are not satisfied with the way we have dealt with your request, or the information you have received, you can ask for an internal review of our decision.
Please send your request to: Peter Grogan, Corporate Information Governance Manager, Information Governance Team, Client Services Team / PP B2E S County Hall / B2E, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4DY or email [email protected] We will carry out an internal review and we will write to you with the results of our investigation. If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for an appeal. The Information Commissioner’s address is - Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF Tel: 0303 – 123 1113
It would be helpful if you could quote the reference numbers at the top of this letter in any future correspondence.
Our response to your enquiry will be published, without your contact details, on the Council’s website at: http://www.somerset.gov.uk/disclosurelog
Yours sincerely xxxx Customers and Communities xxxx Somerset County Council County Hall Taunton TA1 4DY xxxx Email: [email protected] Web: www.somerset.gov.uk Area of planning P No. Location Planning permission number Permission end date Coordx Coordy permission
P3 (pt) London Drove, Westhay Moor 003589/ 4.03 21/02/2042 344,873.8 143,429.8
P3 (pt) Westhay Heath 003589/ 2.43 21/02/2042 341,681.8 142,379.4
P3 (pt) Westhay Heath 003589/ 1.63 21/02/2042 341,323.3 141,990.8
P13 Short Drove, off North Chine Drove, Mudgley 008023/001 0.71 21/12/2017 344,400.6 144,911.2
P18 Northload (Oaks) Drove, Westhay Moor 008028/001 1.87 30/06/2016 346,023.7 144,288.4
P22 Short Drove, off North Chine Drove, Mudgley 013849/001 0.27 21/12/2017 344,522.0 144,914.1
P25 North Chine Drove, Godney 015883/001 0.3 21/02/2042 346,250.4 145,389.4
P49 Northload (Oaks) Drove, Westhay Moor 059593/001 1.98 N/A
345,789.1 144,122.5
P49 Northload (Oaks) Drove, Westhay Moor 059593/001 2.93 N/A
345,931.3 144,072.8
P50 North Chine Drove, Godney 076821/004 0.33 21/02/2042 346,464.5 145,353.7
P61 Westhay Moor Drove, Westhay Moor 067359/001 2.5 21/12/2017
346,245.3 144,038.0
P61 Westhay Moor Drove, Westhay Moor 067359/002 4.52 21/12/2017
346,016.3 143,535.3
P71A Northload (Oaks) Drove, Westhay Moor 076320/002 3.22 21/02/2042 346,098.7 144,510.8 P79 Daggs Lane Drove, Westhay Moor 076515/001 4.91 21/02/2042 345,740.4 143,906.8
P79 Daggs Lane Drove, Westhay Moor 107705/002 14.61 21/02/2042 345,880.6 144,448.4
P82 North Chine Drove, Godney 076821/004 1 21/02/2042 346,497.4 145,339.4
P89 Westhay Moor Drove, Westhay Moor 015197/001 2.4 31/12/2017 345,888.5 143,869.0
P106 London Drove, Westhay Moor 085537/001 4.07 31/12/2017 344,835.1 144,182.1
P163 Westhay Moor Drove, Westhay Moor 067359/002 5.3 31/12/2017 346,146.9 144,043.0
P166 Northload (Oaks) Drove, Westhay Moor 067813/003 1.92 31/12/2008 346,135.1 144,320.2
P177 Northload (Oaks) Drove, Westhay Moor 067359/002 0.75 31/12/2017 346,223.4 144,190.0
P185 Millards Drove & Back Drove, Edington Heath 1/26/97/006 24.99 21/02/2042 338,506.7 141,492.0
P255/A Northload (Oaks) Drove, Westhay Moor 106071/001 0.9 31/12/2017 346,222.4 144,436.5
P256 Northload (Oaks) Drove, Westhay Moor 067813/002 3.12 N/A 346,036.6 144,016.1 MAP A
Date of last Date of next Included in Owner/Operator HRA notes notes ROMP ROMP SSSI
appeal withdrawn EJ Godwin (Peat Industries Ltd) To be reviewed. Priority 2 20/05/1997 12/8/00 12/08/2015
appeal withdrawn EJ Godwin (Peat Industries Ltd) To be reviewed. Priority 2 20/05/1997 12/8/00 12/08/2015
appeal withdrawn Somerset Wildlife Trust To be reviewed. Priority 2 20/05/1997 12/8/00 12/08/2015
Individual To be reviewed. Priority 1 29/04/1997 29/10/2012 technical default no notice sent extension granted until 19/12/13 pending consideration of longer extension to allow for WMIR EJ Godwin (Peat Industries Ltd) Awaiting submission of Integrated Restoration Scheme 24/06/1997 24/12/2012 submission
appeal held in n/a due to appeal not Individual Reviewed. Decision taken to revoke. abeyance having been decided
extension granted until 28/5/14 Individual Reviewed. Decision taken to revoke. 28/11/1997 28/05/2013 due to Reg 63 review no application submitted so permission ceased to have effect except insofar as it imposes restoration and aftercare Individual To be reviewed. Priority 2 24/06/1997 24/12/2012 conditions no application submitted so permission ceased to have effect except insofar as it imposes restoration and aftercare Individual To be reviewed. Priority 2 24/06/1997 24/12/2012 conditions
romped with P82 as extension granted until 28/5/14 Individual Reviewed. Decision taken to revoke. 28/11/1997 single application 28/05/2013 due to Reg 63 review extension granted until 19/12/13 pending consideration of longer extension to allow for WMIR northern area appeal submission - southern area EJ Godwin (Peat Industries Ltd) Awaiting submission of Integrated Restoration Scheme 25/06/1997 withdrawn 5/5/98 05/05/2013 expires before next romp due extension granted until 19/12/13 pending consideration of longer extension to allow for WMIR northern area appeal submission - southern area EJ Godwin (Peat Industries Ltd) Awaiting submission of Integrated Restoration Scheme 25/06/1997 withdrawn 5/5/98 05/05/2013 expires before next romp due
EJ Godwin (Peat Industries Ltd) Awaiting submission of Integrated Restoration Scheme 14/12/2005 14/12/2020 Individual Reviewed. Order served. 24/06/1997 24/12/2012 received, pending determination
Individual (part) and Somerset Wildlife Trust (part) Reviewed. Order served. 24/06/1997 24/12/2012 received, pending determination
romped with P50 as extension granted until 28/5/14 Individual Reviewed. Decision taken to revoke. 28/11/1997 single application 28/05/2013 due to Reg 63 review extension granted until 19/12/13 pending consideration of longer appeal withdrawn extension to allow for WMIR EJ Godwin (Peat Industries Ltd) Awaiting submission of Integrated Restoration Scheme. 25/06/1997 5/5/98 05/05/2013 submission
Individual To be reviewed. Priority 1 30/04/1997 30/10/2012 received, pending determination romped with P177 as extension granted until 19/12/13 single application pending consideration of longer appeal withdrawn extension to allow for WMIR EJ Godwin (Peat Industries Ltd) Awaiting submission of Integrated Restoration Scheme 25/06/1997 5/5/98 05/05/2013 submission
EJ Godwin (Peat Industries Ltd) Awaiting submission of Integrated Restoration Scheme expires < 15 years romped with P163 as extension granted until 19/12/13 single application pending consideration of longer appeal withdrawn extension to allow for WMIR EJ Godwin (Peat Industries Ltd) Awaiting submission of Integrated Restoration Scheme 25/06/1997 5/5/98 05/05/2013 submission
EJ Godwin (Peat Industries Ltd) To be reviewed. Priority 2 14/12/2005 14/06/2021
EJ Godwin (Peat Industries Ltd) Awaiting submission of Integrated Restoration Scheme n/a expires < 15 years
EJ Godwin (Peat Industries Ltd) Awaiting submission of Integrated Restoration Scheme 20/02/1990 expires < 15 years MAP A MAP B MAP C MAP D Which Included in Which Included in Included in Included in Special National National County Which SSSI Special Ramsar/Natura Protection Nature Nature Wildlife Protection Area 2000 Area Reserve Reserve Site
Westhay Moor Somerset Levels & Moors
Westhay Moor Somerset Levels & Moors
Westhay Moor Somerset Levels & Moors
Westhay Moor Somerset Levels & Moors
Westhay Moor Somerset Levels & Moors
Westhay Moor Somerset Levels & Moors
Westhay Moor Somerset Levels & Moors
Somerset Westhay Moor Levels & Moors
Somerset Westhay Moor Levels & Moors
Westhay Moor Somerset Levels & Moors
Westhay Moor Somerset Levels & Moors
Westhay Moor Somerset Levels & Moors Westhay Moor Somerset Levels & Moors Westhay Westhay Moor Somerset Moor Levels & Moors
Westhay Moor Somerset Levels & Moors
Westhay Moor Somerset Levels & Moors
Westhay Moor Somerset Levels & Moors
Westhay Moor Somerset Levels & Moors
Westhay Moor Somerset Levels & Moors
Westhay Moor Somerset Levels & Moors Catcott Edington & Somerset Chilton Moors Levels & Moors
Westhay Moor Somerset Levels & Moors
Westhay Moor Somerset Levels & Moors