River Cam CWS and Cam Washes SSSI Assessment of access sensitivity and pressures BLANK PAGE Issuing office Milton Hall | Ely Road | Milton | Cambridge | CB24 6WZ T: 01223 631635 | W: www.bsg-ecology.com | E: [email protected] Client LDA Design Project P19-660 Waterbeach River Cam Walkover Draft version/final FINAL File reference P19-660 River Cam CWS and Cam Washes SSSI - Assessment of access sensitivity and pressures Name Position Date Originated Roger Buisson Associate Director 16 August 2019 Reviewed Peter Shepherd Director 21 January 2020 Approved for Peter Shepherd Director 21 January 2020 issue to client Issued to client Roger Buisson Associate Director 21 January 2020 Disclaimer This report is issued to the client for their sole use and for the intended purpose as stated in the agreement between the client and BSG Ecology under which this work was completed, or else as set out within this report. This report may not be relied upon by any other party without the express written agreement of BSG Ecology. The use of this report by unauthorised third parties is at their own risk and BSG Ecology accepts no duty of care to any such third party. BSG Ecology has exercised due care in preparing this report. It has not, unless specifically stated, independently verified information provided by others. No other warranty, express or implied, is made in relation to the content of this report and BSG Ecology assumes no liability for any loss resulting from errors, omissions or misrepresentation made by others. Any recommendation, opinion or finding stated in this report is based on circumstances and facts as they existed at the time that BSG Ecology performed the work. The content of this report has been provided in accordance with the provisions of the CIEEM Code of Professional Conduct. BSG Ecology works where appropriate to the scope of our brief, to the principles and requirements of British Standard BS42020. Nothing in this report constitutes legal opinion. If legal opinion is required the advice of a qualified legal professional should be secured. Observations relating to the state of built structures or trees have been made from an ecological point of view and, unless stated otherwise, do not constitute structural or arboricultural advice. Derbyshire Oxford Newcastle Newport Swansea Cambridge | BSG Ecology is a trading name of BSG Ecology Ltd Registered in: England and Wales | No. 12142513 | Registered address: Merlin House No1 Langstone Business Park Newport NP18 2HJ River Cam CWS and Cam Washes SSSI: Assessment of access sensitivity and pressures Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 1 2 Methods ......................................................................................................................................................... 3 3 Findings ......................................................................................................................................................... 5 4 Potential impacts of increased recreational access .................................................................................... 10 5 Recommendations to avoid and mitigate potential impacts ........................................................................ 12 6 References .................................................................................................................................................. 14 Appendix: List of animal species observed on the walkover surveys ................................................................ 15 Figures ................................................................................................................................................................ 17 ii 21/01/2020 River Cam CWS and Cam Washes SSSI: Assessment of access sensitivity and pressures 1 Introduction The commission 1.1 BSG Ecology was commissioned by LDA Design on August 2019 to carry out a walkover survey of the Public Rights of Way (PRoWs) alongside the River Cam to gather and evaluate information in response to the concerns expressed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire (the Wildlife Trust) and Natural England about potential impacts on the River Cam County Wildlife Site (CWS) and the Cam Washes Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). 1.2 Those concerns had been expressed to South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) (the relevant local planning authority) in relation to an ongoing dialogue about the outline application for the development of Waterbeach New Town East (application reference S/2075/18/OL) and the consequential increase in the human population in the area that would occur as a result of the proposed residential development. 1.3 A letter from Michael Huntington, Principal Planning Officer – Strategic Sites, at SCDC to Matt Clarke of Boyer Planning, sent by email on 02 July 2019 established the brief for the work described in this report in relation to the River Cam CWS. The relevant section of that letter is: There is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that there will not be significant impacts on the River Cam CWS. In accordance with Adopted South Cambridgeshire District Council Local Plan policy NH/5, ‘Proposed development likely to have an adverse effect on land within or adjoining a Site of Biodiversity or Geological Importance…will not normally be permitted’. To address this issue, the Council’s Ecologist would welcome an ecological walkover survey to assess the current wildlife value of the River within the likely zone of influence of the scheme (including recreational impacts). This could be a relatively high-level assessment, focusing on ecologically sensitive features such as Habitats of Principal Importance and protected and otherwise notable species which have the potential to be negatively impacted (including by trampling, disturbance, etc.). Potential impact areas should be identified and mapped. A framework and mechanism for monitoring and remedial avoidance and mitigation measures (e.g. fencing) which includes timescales, responsibilities and funding should be detailed. Further discussion about the level of information required at Outline stage to demonstrate compliance with local planning policy will be welcomed. Further discussion regarding mechanisms to secure protection of the CWS will also be required. 1.4 Similar concerns have been expressed about access to the Cam Washes SSSI and disturbance of its interest features by Natural England, including in its response (NE Reference 250163 of 16 August 2018) to SCDC, when it stated: Existing visitor levels at the southern end of the Cam Washes are already a concern for the breeding bird interest of the SSSI, particularly through disturbance of nesting birds and notably by people with dogs / dogs running loose. The proposed development is likely to give rise to a significant increase in the number of people visiting the SSSI; there are numerous routes, on foot and by car, off Long Drove, and along the Fen Rivers Way footpath. This will increase the level of disturbance to the notified and highly sensitive breeding bird interest. …. The scale and proximity of the strategic development will put the Cam Washes within easy reach of tens of thousands of new residents. The number of visitors to the Cam Washes, and the way that the site is used, is likely to change substantially and permanently. 1 21/01/2020 River Cam CWS and Cam Washes SSSI: Assessment of access sensitivity and pressures Designated site descriptions The River Cam CWS 1.5 The River Cam qualifies as CWS because it is a “major river not grossly modified by canalisation or poor water quality” (Cambridgeshire & Peterborough County Wildlife Sites Panel, 2014). It supports a wide range of submerged, floating, marginal and floodplain vegetation. The river has flood embankments enclosing a generally narrow strip of washland on both sides of the river. The vegetation on the majority of the washland and embankments is species-poor semi-improved grassland; there is some inundation grassland and swamp in lower lying areas. The washlands are grazed by cattle. 1.6 The CWS includes to the north of the area for this study the Commissioners' Pit, also known as Upware South Pit, a small flooded disused chalk pit now largely occupied by swamp and woodland vegetation. Part of the pit is the Upware South Pit geological SSSI. The Cam Washes SSSI are not part of the CWS. The Cam Washes SSSI 1.7 The Cam Washes SSSI is a 169.3 ha site in the floodplain of the River Cam north and south of Upware, Cambridgeshire. It consists of a series of low lying pastures with associated pools, ditches and river margins bounded by the flood embankments of the River Cam and subject to seasonal flooding. Its notified feature is an assemblage of breeding birds of lowland damp grassland that in the past has included the waders oystercatcher, lapwing, snipe and redshank and the waterfowl mute swan, greylag goose, Canada goose, shelduck, mallard, shoveler, gadwall, teal and tufted duck (Collier et al., 2006). The site consists of three units: Unit 1 is to the north of the A1123 and is in Favourable condition; Unit 2 is to the south of the A1123 and is in Unfavourable No Change condition; and Unit 3 is to the south of Upware and is in Favourable condition. Description of the project 1.8 Waterbeach New Town East (NTE) is a proposal for 4,500 dwellings, business, retail, community, leisure and