Isle of Wight No 1 in Europe

Freddie · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 34

Yes indeed.
The Island is now the most important site for bats in the whole of Europe.
This is great news for Graham Street and anyone else involved in the preservation of habitats for these lovely little creatures.
I have a small colony within my roofspace and get a lot of pleasure watching their aerobatics at dusk.
An additional bonus is that there will now never be a threat to the bats from the erection of wind turbines as it will be against the law.
Reeesult! Cool

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Georgedubya · Joined: 20 Oct 2009 Posts: 28

This story first appeared on the BBC website at lunchtime today.
It is especially good news for this protected species and anything that would endanger them such as the 3 wind farm proposals will surely be rejected.
Councillors on the Planning Committee should be aware that they risk legal action against them by various conservation groups and the EU should they decide to allow wind farms which can and do kill bats as their lungs explode due to the changes in air pressure that turbines create.
We now have the opportunity to become a serious venue for tourists interested in not only rare species of bat which cannot be seen elsewhere, but also red squirrels, which are in almost terminal decline on the mainland.
This is a red letter day for the island and for all the hard work by Graham Street (and his wife) whom I have accompanied on his "bat walks" in various locations.

Freddie · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 34

@ tali,
I love that bat! And I do have a small colony, but no belfry!
@GD,
Too right about the Planning Committee. They should be very careful.
Just noticed on the site that should not be mentioned (Rob & EG
Wink

) that the old biddy who has campaigned tirelessly on behalf of Cornwall Light & Power for their plans at Cheverton is so too faced that she is now praising Graham Street for his dedication to the bats, which if she and her cronies had their way, would be wiped out by the turbines she wants so badly.
Gnnh! Mad

Mo · Joined: 07 Oct 2009 Posts: 20

I have just learned that Ventnor Golf Club, despite allegedly being in debt to the tune of about £100K, have somehow found the money to pay for an Environmental Impact Statement and that the Span Farm application will also have to have an EIS.
This begs a few questions.
Firstly, the Golf Club and Span Farm are within a few hundred metres of each other. Given that bats forage for food wherever they find it, are these two proposals not indicating their statement of intent to kill bats, which is against European Law.
Secondly, given that the irrefutable evidence of bats lungs exploding and being killed by turbines, are the Councillors on the Planning Committee now in a seriously difficult place, as some of them no doubt would support wind farms.
Thirdly, if the Golf Club CAN raise £40K plus for an EIS, why are they not paying off some of their debt to the bank?

Georgedubya · Joined: 20 Oct 2009 Posts: 28

What is even more worrying was the report in the CP a few weeks ago when Stuart Love, Director of Environment at the Council stated that it remains the opinion of the Isle of Wight Council planning department that the Ventnor Golf Club application did not require an environmental impact assessment.
As the Regulations are clear that ANY wind turbine over 15 metre hub height WILL require an EIA, it is disturbing that a senior officer of the Council is willing to go into print to confirm his ignorance of the law and could be seen as being prejudicial
That article will, I have no doubt, be stored away by environmental groups and objectors in the event that these turbines are allowed and a judicial review is then applied for.
Let there be no equivocation here, the bats are the primary concern, not some Johnny-come-lately wind turbine operator.
To approve these wind turbines will probably lead to a scenario that will eclipse the Undercliff Drive Enquiry by some way.

Georgedubya · Joined: 20 Oct 2009 Posts: 28

I must admit that the IOW Council does seem to do its "shopping" for senior officers at the nearest BOGOF outlet for council employees.
When one goes back a few years, one does have to ask how ever did some of these people get ANY job, let alone a high ranking position with this local authority.
For a senior officer to actually state in print that he believes the law to be something completely different to his interpretation of it and then to have to be corrected by G.O.S.E would cause any employer palpitations, yet when it comes to the 200 redundancies, it will undoubtedly be those lower down the scale that will get the chop.
I fear 'twas ever thus.