3 responses from Mr Peter Moreton, Swift Conservation Project - Swifts in the Community
1. Mr Peter Moreton, Swift Conservation Project - Swifts in the Community : 17 Dec 2015 20:52:00
Discussion Paper section
6. Options for Meeting the Objectives and Delivering the Vision
Please make your comments below on the section you have selected. Where appropriate, make reference to the paragraph number you are referring to, your preferred option, the question number asked in the Discussion Paper and the reference number of the site you are commenting on.
These comments refer to one of the proposed development sites. Response to Q27.
B113 - Nunns Av, Garages. This would require the purchase of all the garages which belong to nearby residents, several of which have been re-developed or had significant amounts of money spent on them. Many are put to extensive use and it is therefore unlikely the owners would want to sell them, particularly as many who own them have nothing equivalent attached to their properties. Access to the back area would be through a narrow entrance, which would be difficult, if not impossible, to widen, and in its present state and dimension would probably preclude the entry of large vehicles such as delivery and refuse collection. There is also an underground spring which leaves the area wet for much of the time.
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2. Mr Peter Moreton, Swift Conservation Project - Swifts in the Community : 17 Dec 2015 20:49:00
Discussion Paper section
5. Policy Issues
Are there any topics or issues that you think we have missed or that you wish to raise?
The comments below refer to section 5.31/Q22.
Biodiversity consideration should be extended to include urban biodiversity, specifically to wildlife which is dependent on man and his dwellings. Bats are well protected under current legislation. However certain bird species such as the swift, do not enjoy this level of protection leaving them vulnerable to disturbance and loss of habitat. The AONB is fortunate in having a large contingent of properties which are of an age and construction which make them ideal for nesting swifts and also other predominantly house nesting birds such as house sparrows. This factor should be recognized as an important aspect of the AONB’s towns and villages. Arnside and Silverdale have healthy populations of swifts with smaller numbers occurring in locations such as Warton and Yealand.
The protection of swifts could be addressed in the following ways :
The Swifts in the Community project is currently mapping where all swifts are nesting in the AONB. This information could be available to planners which would allow any planning applications to be checked to establish if the property in question is used by nesting swifts. The information will not only inform planners about the presence of nesting swifts, but their precise location within the property.
However, most work done on properties which hold nesting swifts tends to fall under the planning requirement radar. Maintenance and development work can often be planned at a time when swifts are nesting and disturbance and the erection of scaffolding can have a serious impact on the swift population. This usually causes them to abandon completely any attempt at nesting and often results in them failing to return to the property in future years.
Swifts numbers have declined by nearly 40% in the last 20 years and it is believed to be the loss of their traditional nest sites which are to blame. In addition to protecting their exiting sites, the long term future for swifts, and also for other dwelling dependent birds, would be to increase the stock of properties which enable birds such as these to find suitable nest sites. There are a number of different solutions to this problem. Perhaps the most appropriate are special bricks which have been developed to fit into the outer skin of newly constructed buildings which enable birds such as swifts and house sparrows to find the type of nest site they prefer. The requirement to, or encouragement to, incorporate these into new constructions would go some way to addressing this issue.
Do you have any comments to make on the Draft Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report (Nov 2015) associated with the Issues and Options Discussion Paper?
The comments below are made in respect of their relationship with the comments made above re. statement of Issues and Options.
Consultation question (a) 4.2 Environment. Should mention the need to also consider the biodiversity of urban areas.
Consultation question (b) 5.3 Key Sustainability Issues and Opportunities. Table section Biodiversity Flora and Fauna. Should Mention the need to also consider urban biodiversity. Question (c) could refer to survey of swift numbers. Question (d) response would include mention of swift conservation within the AONB.
Consultation question (g) Table 6.1 section 10 should also refer to conservation/enhancement of urban biodiversity.
Appendix b Baseline data. Section 1.9 could mention baseline data for nesting swifts provided by Swifts in the Community project. It could also mention the opportunity to conserve and enhance the population of swifts nesting in towns and villages within the AONB.
3. Mr Peter Moreton, Swift Conservation Project - Swifts in the Community : 17 Dec 2015 20:51:00
Discussion Paper section
6. Options for Meeting the Objectives and Delivering the Vision
Please make your comments below on the section you have selected. Where appropriate, make reference to the paragraph number you are referring to, your preferred option, the question number asked in the Discussion Paper and the reference number of the site you are commenting on.
These comments refer to one of the proposed development sites. Response to Q27.
B80 Keasedale Rd Storth. An area of valuable woodland set on a steep slope with a public path going through, makes this an inappropriate piece of land to develop. The woodland provides a link for wild life moving between the Landscape Trust land at Teddy Heights and the gardens in the properties in Keasdale Rd/Av.
