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Wednesday 30 October 2013

FOSWMT and SSPT clear more rubbish from Speckled Wood

30th October 2013
FOSWMT AND SSPT CLEAR MORE RUBBISH FROM SPECKLED WOOD.
This morning the charity was busy with volunteers from SSPT clearing rubbish from the upper woodland in Speckled Wood a whole skip was filled with this rubbish and the charity hope that they can arrange for another skip to be delivered as there is still more material to be removed .



The manager of SSPT was on site assessing the work today. The skip is looking very full of tipped rubbish.

This is part of the charities on going clean-up of the Speckled Wood Woodland . The charity want to thank Frenches Skip Hire and SSPT volunteers for their help in this matter. The charity has confirmed some Saturday dates with SSPT pending on a empty skip being available.

Tuesday 29 October 2013

Update on Speckled Wood

29th Oct 2013
UPDATE ON SPECKLED WOOD.
The Hasting Borough Council Development Plan has failed to be delivered to the inspector this year.

We understand that the reason for this position is that the South East Plan was abolished, by the government. The SE Plan was a strategic development plan for the whole of South East England, drawn up by the South East Regional Assembly, which has also been abolished.

We understand that this was what the Council had based its 3,200 homes housing target on, and meant that they had to go through a lengthy process of that being replaced (in effect) with a target of 7,000 homes, and having to provide new evidence to show that they could only make room for 3,400 new homes. Yes it seems this figure has increased.

Because of the abolition of the South East Plan we have been informed that the planning inspector thinks the Council should consult on the DMP again, because of the time that’s elapsed since the original consultation. We understand the consultation will pretty much be a repeat of the last one last year, although probably over a shorter period. As it says in the Shaping Hastings Newsletter, previous comments will be taken into account, but it’s an opportunity to add new ones (or even withdraw previous ones). It’ll take place early next year, we don’t know exactly when yet.

This could be good news if the Victoria Avenue Planning Application is not approved but it does mean the whole process will start from last year again. We really would benefit from the general public helping with this matter taking Speckled Wood through the next consultation to help us increase the public objection to the planning in Speckled Wood.

Monday 28 October 2013

The Trust inspected Plans for the Work House site

28 Oct 2013
THE TRUST INSPECT PLANS FOR THE WORK HOUSE SITE.
The Trust members went to Aquila house today to examine the files they had requested from Archive for the Work House Site. It seems as some file information was not sent through a further request will be made to obtain the missing Wildlife Constraints and map folders. The visit was quite successful and photographic records where taken of documentation the Trust will forward on to the relevant parties.

The Trust are busy this morning clearing paths

28th Oct 2013
THE TRUST ARE BUSY THIS MORNING CLEARING PATHS.
After the met office warned of strong winds last night, members of the Trust arrived at Speckled Wood early this morning to see if the strong winds had caused any damage.

The members cleared away a lot of debris from fallen tree canopies. Further into the Woodland a tree had fallen across a pathway. The members of the Trust and a supportive group member cut  the fallen tree into pieces so that it could be moved off the pathways. The Trust was very happy with the progress of this and hope to be back to cut this into more manageable pieces in the near future.

WSP Publish Ecology Report for Victoria Avenue

28th October 2013
WSP PUBLISHES ECOLOGY REPORT FOR VICTORIA AVENUE.
WSP has submitted a 2012 ecology report for the top of Speckled Wood. This is available on the planning application.

Saturday 19 October 2013

Church Street Update

19th October 2013
CHURCH STREET UPDATE.
The Trust has been actively meeting with specialist on the Church Street site over the past two weeks. The reports from these Ecologists and Wildlife Welfare Consultant have now come in and they have been forwarded to the Police Wildlife Officer , Natural England and to Cllr Peter Chowney.

The Trust is waiting for further information from the planning office and a further report to arrive in relation to this matter and it is expected  that there will be a meeting on site with all the interested parties in the near future, when this final information becomes available. We are told the Police investigation is ongoing. We will report more information as it becomes available.

Thursday 10 October 2013

The Trust meets with an Ecologist at the HCA site

10th October 2013
THE TRUST MEETS WITH AN ECOLOGIST AT THE HCA SITE.
The Vice Chair of the Trust, Mr Dave Hemsley arranged for the Trust to meet a leading ecologist Mr Johnson today at the Church Street Site. In attendance was also Secretary Mrs Pelaou and Chair Mr Newbold. The intention was to lay their own sand traps .  This was deemed not necessary after new information was discovered on boardering properties.

Fresh badger excrement was also found on site making it not necessary to put sand traps down. Mr Johnson will be writing a report which will be shared with all interested parties.

Saturday 5 October 2013

Anguis fragilis thriving in Church street in amonst the badger foraging

05th October 2013
ANGUIS FRAGILIS THRIVING IN CHURCH STREET IN AMONGST THE BADGER FORAGING.
This morning whilst out early a member of the trust was looking at the foraging marks left wby the badgers on the HCA site and spotted a further Anguis fragilis in the ground. This is fabulous news and is the second siting on the HCA land which has been destroyed by an over zelaous contractor at the hands of The Hastings Borough Council Estates Department.

The Trust is extremely pleased to see the badgers foraging and the Anguis fragilis are sill on site.

Friday 4 October 2013

Meeting with Police Wildlife Officers

4th October 2013
MEETING WITH THE POLICE WILDLIFE OFFICERS.
The Trust met with the Police Wild Life Officers today  at Church Street. The Hastings Borough Councillors, Estates Department and land owner Homes Community Agency did not attend despite being invited with plenty of notice earlier this week.

The meeting was very productive and information was shared . The Trust was told the investigation is on going and that they had been in Contact with Natural England who had told them that the email we had received was not correct.

A later conversation with Natural England pointed out that the email was only wrong in so far as Slow Worms and lizards do not need a license , and the Police do not always Prosecute as this is at their discretion. The Trust also learned from their telephone conversation with Natural England that an Outline Planning Permission would not be enough to allow Natural England to grant a license. The Trust is taking this matter forward.

Cllr Windcott has told  this evening  I'm afraid Councillors are not always able to attend all meetings due to the fact it is not a full time role. I have a day job as well as being a Borough Councillor, so most meetings have to be in the evening. We have agreed that this is unfortunate but understandable.

Tuesday 1 October 2013

The Trust are out this morning brush cutting

1st October 2013
THE TRUST ARE OUT THIS MORNING BRUSH CUTTING
The Trust were out early this morning cutting back the pathways, making them look neater without taking too much, which would effect the habitat. The pathways down Church Street have also been partially wood chipped by the Trust last month. This is starting to look fantastic. The Trust are hoping to look at the drainage problem across the path.