Representation by Essex Badger Protection Group (Essex Badger Protection Group)
- Date submitted
- 17 January 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Badgers live in close knit communities, often referred to as "clans", with each clan having it's own territory and setts which are often defended against incursions by members of others clans. In our view, the proposals carry the following serious risks which need to be addressed: - Habitat and territory fragmentation; - A reduction in the ability for clans to mix during the mating season - leading to an increased risk of 'in breeding' and a weakening of genetic stock; - An increase in traffic flows on smaller surrounding roads, leading to an increase in road traffic collisions involving badgers; - An increase in air pollution, affecting both badgers and prey species; - Night working during the construction phase and the likely impacts on all nocturnal species; - Light pollution and the impacts on prey species as well as badgers themselves; and - The project, and the proposed ecological mitigation, is being assessed on out of date survey data and is therefore in breach of Natural England and CIEEM guidance for development related surveys.