Tarmac Girton Quarry Planning Application to Vary Conditions to Facilitate an Extension of Time Environmental Statement Appendix 4 Ecological Scoping Report dated February 2016 Proposed Extension of Time at Girton Quarry Nottinghamshire Ecological Scoping Report A report to: Tarmac Trading Limited Portland House Bickenhill Lane Birmingham B37 7BQ By: EMEC Ecology The Old Ragged School Brook Street Nottingham NG1 1EA Tel: 0115 964 4828 Fax: 0115 964 4829 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.emec-ecology.co.uk February 2016 This report contains confidential information with regards to badger. Any references to badger sett locations should be removed if the report is to be put into the public domain. Proposed Extension of Time at Girton Quarry in Nottinghamshire Ecological Scoping Report 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Site Location and Background Information This report has been prepared by EMEC Ecology for Tarmac Trading Limited. It provides the details of a desk study and an ecological walk-over survey of an area of land at Girton Quarry for which a planning application is being prepared to extend the working time of the quarry. The area of land where the works are proposed is centred on grid reference SK 823 690 to the north of Girton in Nottinghamshire. The location of the survey area is shown on Figure 1 in Appendix 1. 1.2 Proposed Works Girton Quarry is a mothballed sand and gravel quarry which ceased works in January 2009. A planning application is now being prepared for an extension of time from the 31st August 2016 to the 31st August 2030 to enable the remaining mineral reserves to be worked. It estimated approximately 3 million tonnes of minerals remain within the site. The previously approved phasing plan is provided in Figure 2 in Appendix 1. As shown within this plan, Phases 1 to 3 have been completed and the habitats restored. The location of the processing plant, stockpiles and site office are also shown on the plan and these remain within this location today. In addition, prior to mothballing extraction had been completed in Phases 4 and 5 while extraction was taking place within Phase 6 and soils had been stripped in Phase 7 in preparation for extraction. The remaining working areas therefore include a section of Phase 6 as well as Phases 7 to 14. This work will also require the installation of an access route between the extraction areas as shown with Figure 2 in Appendix 1. Although Phases 4, 5 and a section of 6 have been partly restored, full restoration in line with the previously approved restoration plan (see Figure 3 in Appendix 1) is still proposed. 1.3 Survey Brief and Approach EMEC Ecology’s brief was to evaluate potential ecological issues associated with the works and outline mitigation, compensation and enhancement measures within an Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) for a planning application. Initially EMEC Ecology has been commissioned to carry out a preliminary ecological appraisal (PEA) of the site to assess any initial ecological constraints and the need for any further survey work. Following the survey, the need for further surveys has been identified before an accurate evaluation of the site can be made and appropriate mitigation measures outlined. Therefore this scoping report details the results of the survey and outlines the further survey work required. 2 Prepared by EMEC Ecology Tel: 0115 964 4828 Proposed Extension of Time at Girton Quarry in Nottinghamshire Ecological Scoping Report 2. METHODOLOGY 2.1 Desk Study This involved consultation to obtain any existing records of protected and/or notable species and designated nature conservation sites e.g. Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) from the site / survey area to a distance of approximately 2km (this will be referred to as the ‘study area’). The following organisations and web-based resources were consulted: Nottinghamshire Biological and Geological Records Centre and the county mammal recorder (Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust) Multi-Agency Geographic Information for the Countryside (Magic website for statutory nature conservation sites). 2.2 Ecological Survey 2.2.1 Survey Area The area surveyed is shown on Figure 4 in Appendix 1 and comprised of the remaining working areas. 2.2.2 Ecological Walk-over Survey An ecological walk-over survey of the survey area was conducted and notes were made on the Phase-1 habitat types present (JNCC 2010) and their suitability for protected species. Target notes were used to record any habitats or features of particular interest and any sightings, signs or evidence of protected or notable faunal species or any potential habitat for such species, as detailed below: The suitability of habitats for badgers (Meles meles) was recorded and any evidence of badgers including setts, dung pits, badger paths, hairs, bedding, footprints and scratching trees was noted. Trees with features suitable for roosting bats were noted, such as hollows, cracks and cavities within trunks and branches (e.g. old woodpecker holes), crevices behind loose bark and ivy growth. The suitability of habitats was assessed for amphibians (including great crested newt Triturus cristatus) and reptiles. The suitability of habitats was assessed for otter (Lutra lutra), water vole (Arvicola amphibius) and white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes). The suitability of habitats was assessed for nesting birds. 2.2.3 Survey Details EMEC Ecology carried out the above surveys on the 2nd February 2016. The survey was carried out by Richard Anderton BSc (Hons) MSc ACIEEM. 2.2.4 Survey Limitations Surveying in winter is not an ideal time to carry out a habitat survey as it is outside of the plant growing season (i.e. April to September inclusive) when plants may not be readily 3 Prepared by EMEC Ecology Tel: 0115 964 4828 Proposed Extension of Time at Girton Quarry in Nottinghamshire Ecological Scoping Report apparent and many faunal species are less active / dormant. However, vegetative growth including seed heads are generally still visible and can be identified by an experienced surveyor and used to make reliable judgements about the quality and composition of habitats. Only a brief assessment of the survey area was made and no systematic surveys to establish the presence / absence of protected species were undertaken. As such, a lack of evidence of a protected species does not necessarily indicate an absence of the species. It should be noted that a single visit at any time of year is likely to miss a proportion of the plant species present. 2.3 Ecological Evaluation Criteria Ecological evaluation was undertaken using a combination of evaluation criteria for both habitats and species although the general framework follows that provided by the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (IEEM 2006). Key categories are as follows: International value (internationally designated sites or sites supporting populations of internationally important species); National value (nationally designated sites such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, or sites supporting viable populations of nationally important species); Regional value (sites exceeding county-level designations but not meeting SSSI criteria or supporting viable populations of species on the regional Biodiversity Action Plan, BAP); County value (county sites (e.g. Local Wildlife Site) and other sites which meet the published ecological selection criteria for county designation, a viable area of habitat identified on the county BAP); District value (sites/features that are scarce within the District and appreciably enrich the District’s habitat resource); Parish value (areas of habitat considered to appreciably enrich the habitat resource within the context of a parish or neighbourhood); Sub-parish value (common, low grade habitats). Additional criteria employed were from the following: Schedules and Annexes of UK and European wildlife legislation, e.g. Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) (as amended) and The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (as amended); International conventions on wildlife (e.g. Bern Convention, Bonn convention); Habitats and Species of Principal Biological Importance listed on Section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (2006); UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP 2007); County /Local Biodiversity Action Plan (Nottinghamshire BAG 1998); Taxa-specific conservation lists (e.g. Bird Species of Conservation Concern, Eaton et al. 2009). 2.4 Mitigation Measures Wherever possible, mitigation measures have been proposed for adverse ecological effects. 4 Prepared by EMEC Ecology Tel: 0115 964 4828 Proposed Extension of Time at Girton Quarry in Nottinghamshire Ecological Scoping Report 3. RESULTS 3.1 Desk Study1 3.1.1 Designated Nature Conservation Sites a) Statutory Sites The only statutory designated nature conservation sites (i.e. SSSI) within the study area is Spalford Warren SSSI which is situated approximately 100m to the east of the survey area. The site is designated as it “comprises the best remaining example of grass-heath dominated by wavy hair-grass and sand sedge remaining in Nottinghamshire and is one of the few sites of this type to be found in the Midlands.” b) Non-statutory Sites There is one non-statutory designated nature conservation site within the survey area. This is Old Trent Oxbox, Spalford LWS which runs north to south through the survey area, dividing it in two. This site is designated for its botanical, water beetle and water bug interest. In addition, there are three LWS which either border or are found immediately adjacent to the site boundary; details of these are provided in Table 3.1 below. A further sixteen LWS are found within the study area however the majority of these are over 500m from the survey area, with the exception of Spalford Warren which is also designated as a LWS for its moth, amphibian and reptile interest in addition to botanical reasons. Table 3.1: Non-statutory Designated Nature Conservation within the Survey Area Boundary and it’s Immediate Vicinity LWS Location and Approx.