DEFRA Vs HOUSING |
CONSERVATION? |
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EXHIBITS FRIENDS HERITAGE HOME LIME PARK OPEN DAYS PARKING TECHNOLOGY |
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Great Crested Newts are a protected species, but will conservation law be enough to stop the voracious appetite of developers and a government strapped for cash, from ignoring the duty to conserve and act sustainably, in the quest to concrete over the countryside - come what may?
Is this a potential battle royal between departments, as Steve Reed of DEFRA should be fighting to protect the natural environment, which Angela Rayner is doing her best to cut what she sees as red tape, and build, build build. Though, the houses proposed for this site are not genuinely affordable units. They are executive homes for landlords to rent for profit, while those who are caught in the rental trap, cannot pay those rents without help from the benefits system, which in turn is bankrupting many councils. Those who have not secured land for low cost (self-build or social) housing.
The developers of the field at Lime Cross in Herstmonceux have applied for a pipe to drain the field of natural surface water, through a pipe (presumably) under Church Road or Chapel Row, into a field on the opposite side of the road, into Lime End Farm.
This begs the question, why didn't they apply to build on land at Lime End Farm in the first place? If they (the council and the developers) had considered alternative sites from the outset, it is thought they'd not have given the Lime Cross site a second glance. Where it is beset by multiple problems. Not least of which is the inadequate site lines of the proposed junction. An accident waiting to happen.
If it is that the farmer who owns Lime End Farm is now willing to allow polluted water onto his farmland, then presumably that land will not be suitable for grazing of cattle or sheep. Thus, may as well go into the development melting pot. The only problem being that the A271 is not suitable for this kind of increase in traffic. Not without a bypass of the village.
The proposed re-routing of natural water flow will have the effect of starving the two long established ponds in Lime Park of water, eventually desicating those ponds that are reliant on the water from the adjacent field to keep: Ducks, Moorhens, Toads, Herons, Fish and Great Crested Newts alive. We wonder if a proper study has been carried out, where it is alleged that Southern Water demolished Badger Sets, claiming to have conducted a study. But in fact that study was defective, and the company have refused (so far) to provide a copy for inspection.
For the cost of two stamps, two sheets of A4 paper and 2 envelopes, you can alert these Honourable Members of Parliament to the issues locally.
We would urge residents of Herstmonceux Village, who might be concerned as to over development, routinely recurring potholes, the loss of dog walking and most of all, the threat to wildlife, to write to the Ministers concerned in the following (suggested) terms:
Dear Minister's,
FAO:
The Rt Hon Angela
Rayner MP (Deputy Prime
Minister) House
of Commons
&
FAO:
The Rt Hon Steve
Reed OBE MP Seacole Building 2 Marsham Street London SW1P
4DF
I
am writing to draw your urgent attention to a pressing conservation
issue in Lime Park, Herstmonceux, where housing development company's
are planning to divert the natural surface water supply from two mature
ponds that are critical habitats for several species, including the
legally protected Great
Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus) and Common
Toads (Bufo bufo).
A pond habitat has to be mature to support Herons and Ducks. This picture is of a Heron in Lime Park. In the second pond, there are Great Crested Newts. The area also features Toads, Fish and Moorhens. A Heron was seen on ice this (January) when the pond froze over. Our conservationist was too slow to get a picture.
These pictures were taken of a toad in Lime Park in September 2022. They are a regular feature in Lime Park, somehow finding their way into an outbuilding at the Museum every year, and they are most welcome.
Toads spend most of their adult lives on land, only returning to ponds to breed. It's natural for them to explore and inhabit terrestrial habitats, including areas near human dwellings.
Latimer Homes and Clarion Housing Group applied in October 2024, their application was held to be valid on the 18th of December 2024. At time of writing we are thus in the 'Consultation' period, ending on the 7th February 2025. After which any objections will not be considered. Time is thus of the essence, if you want your views to be counted!
Official government advice is to refuse applications with the potential to harm protected species, but if nobody objects, proposals that are defective in terms of surveys, etc., are likely to be passed. So, please, if you like the local ecology and would prefer that the wildlife presently enjoyed is conserved for future generations, write to your local member, and/or Wealden District Council's planning department to have your say.
THE TWO ENDANGERED PONDS - ALREADY SUFFERING FROM A LOSS OF WATER FLOW DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE, THE PROPOSAL TO DIVERT SURFACE WATER FROM THE ADJACENT FIELD IS TANTAMOUNT TO A DEATH SENTENCE FOR THE FLORA AND FAUNA THAT PRESENTLY ENJOYS THE HABITAT. YOU CAN WALK THE FIELDS AND SEE POND NUMBER ONE, THAT FEEDS POND NUMBER TWO - WHICH IS NOT VISIBLE FROM PUBLIC FOOTPATHS. BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, GOOGLE MAPS SHOWS THESE BODIES OF WATER - WHICH YOU CAN CHECK FOR YOURSELVES. THESE ARE THE SAME GEOGRAPHICAL AREA, IN DIFFERENT VIEWS: MAPS & SATELLITE.
POISON WATER SUPPLY - THEN THERE IS THE MATTER OF THE ANCIENT WELL THAT IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF WATER FOR HERSTMONCEUX MUSEUM, THE PROPOSED HOUSES, CONTAMINATION FROM HERBICIDES, PESTICIDES AND HYDROCARBONS IS A CRIMINAL VIOLATION OF THE 'OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON ACT OF 1861' SECTIONS 23 AND 24 - IN THE MAKING. ALL THOSE HELPING THE OWNERS OF THE FIELD SUPPLYING THE WELL, MIGHT WELL BE GUILTY OF A CONSPIRACY IN THE MATTER.
Please copy and paste the draft wording into your word-processing document, and modify as you see fit, so as to be comfortable with the language used. Please see the links below to the applicable law (statute & regulations). And be warned, both Statutes and Regulations are very long and complicated. Reading will take some time, thus try to look only at the applicable sections.
Thank you all in advance, for your time looking at this extremely important local issue. : )
Now that is what we call rewilding. The oak tree in the middle of this field, and others dotted around the perimeter have been seeding rather well. The tall grass and other shrubs are providing homes for much wildlife. The hope is that, apart from footpaths and historic rights of way, that this becomes a focal point for family walks, ramblers, hikers and dog walkers in the village of Herstmonceux.
PERCENTAGE OF CONSERVATION AREAS IN ENGLAND
As of 2019, 2.2% of England making up 2,938 km2 (1,134 sq mi) is a conservation area, 59% of which are rural, and 41% are in urban areas.
Who has ever heard of a Bakery with electric machinery when horse drawn deliveries were the norm? Herstmonceux had electricity well before most large towns, because of Major Charles de Roemer, who also manufactured seaplanes for the British Admiralty (Royal Navy) in Eastbourne, from 1911 to 1924. Lime Park had the benefit of a stables, coach house and forge for a farrier. A farrier is a specialised blacksmith who makes shoes for horses, out of wrought iron or steel.
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Copyright © 2025 Lime Park Heritage Trust. A not for profit organisation with charitable objects.
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