Surrey County Council has released the executive summary of a recent dormouse survey completed by Danial Winchester of Surrey Wildlife Trust and the conclusions of a bat survey carried out by Wychwood Environmental. These can be seen by cicking the link below. We have been assured that the surveys have been properly completed and that they represent a professional view. We have no evidence to doubt this. SCC has withheld the full surveys as they pinpoint locations of animals found. SCC does not want to compromise the animals’ safety. This is entirely reasonable, but we are pursuing obtaining copies of the surveys with the precise locations deleted.
Click here to read the full executive summary.
January 15, 2017 at 12:24 pm
Looking good on the Dormouse front .. .
that the Surrey Dormouse Group should be consulted and informed at all times relating to the Dormice..
It is the first time I’ve seen that someone other than SCC & Surrey Wildlife Trust .. has been recommended to look out for the Wildlife at Newlands Corner ..especially the Dormice .. and their protection.
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January 20, 2017 at 1:17 pm
SCC refused to give me copies of the surveys because they show locations of the animals. I have asked SCC to redact the locations and let me have the amended versions. I have received this, this morning: “I am not able to let you have the full surveys at the moment, even with the locations redacted. However they will form part of the planning application [for the artificial play structures] when it/if it is submitted later in the year”. I have said that this is unacceptable and that, if I do not receive a reasonable explanation for the withholding, I will submit a Freedom of Information request and a formal complaint. What are they covering up?
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