Question
Maiden Erlegh School has a nature area, known as Buckhurst Copse, at the edge of the playing field which is a remnant of ancient woodland. This provides a habitat for a large variety of wildlife, including bats, many species of birds, moths and foxes which come into our adjacent garden. Moth traps have revealed the copse supports significantly more moths than surrounding roads. The playing field is home to millions of insects and invertebrates and therefore an essential feeding ground for the wildlife - in addition to absorbing carbon dioxide. What assessment have you carried out on the effect of ripping up the school field and replacing it with plastic, erecting a very tall fence that will hinder or prevent migration , non-stop noise seven days a week and floodlighting the entire area every evening which will seriously affect the bat and moth population?
Minutes:
Question
Maiden Erlegh School has a nature area, known as Buckhurst Copse, at the edge of the playing field which is a remnant of ancient woodland. This provides a habitat for a large variety of wildlife, including bats, many species of birds, moths and foxes which come into our adjacent garden. Moth traps have revealed the copse supports significantly more moths than surrounding roads. The playing field is home to millions of insects and invertebrates and therefore an essential feeding ground for the wildlife - in addition to absorbing carbon dioxide. What assessment have you carried out on the effect of ripping up the school field and replacing it with plastic, erecting a very tall fence that will hinder or prevent migration, non-stop noise seven days a week and floodlighting the entire area every evening which will seriously affect the bat and moth population?
Answer
I expressed my disappointment that an Ecology Survey has not yet been carried out. It should have been, but it will be carried out before any full planning application is made. I would say in defence of the Council, we have had only one Ecology Officer until recently, and the survey would be redundant in the event of not proceeding to planning.
The Council has no desire to impact wildlife in the area. However, it is important to note that the existing floodlit Astro pitch (which we are proposing to replace) has been in use for more than 15 years and is already situated next to Buckhurst Copse.
Supplementary Question:
The floodlit pitch is behind our garden behind the copse. In fact, we never even knew that, that pitch was going to be built, and we did not know that the floodlights were going to be built. It just suddenly happened. I have noticed and my husband has noticed that it has got significantly more busy and is used a lot more than it used to be. It is an increasing problem already, and we do not feel that the School ever really consulted the residents over it. I am not aware if they even had planning approved for use outside school hours. They are certainly using it outside school hours. We have a summer house at the bottom of our garden which we cannot use in the evenings, because it is too noisy, with constant shouting of footballers. Quite frankly I am here mainly in support of my neighbours because we are already affected by this, it is true. Our neighbours do not know what is about to hit them, and what is more their gardens are going to be much nearer the pitch, which are going to be used infinitely than it is already being used.
My question to you, is do you care about the environment and the wildlife, and is this really progress?
Supplementary Answer:
I have a very simple answer. Yes, absolutely, and it will be one of the factors that we look at very closely in the next few weeks.