Southern Water are allowing  property development at their largest reservoir, Bewl Water, despite evidence from ecologists that it risks the abandonment of Britain’s largest Common Gull roost, housing over 10% of the national population. As the South East’s largest body of inland water Bewl Water is a refuge for Common, Black Headed Gulls and other Water Birds when sea conditions are rough. Both Gulls are on the Amber list of Birds of Conservation Concern and site abandonment would have international consequences for the species.
 
The Sussex Wildlife Trust, RSPB Tonbridge, the Council for the Protection of Rural England and the Parish Council have written an open letter asking Southern Water to desist from allowing the development and reminds them that their site is in the process of being considered as SSSI and RAMSAR by Natural England - the site significantly exceeds the criteria.
 
Until now Bewl Water has been a daytime only site and so there has been very little human disturbance when the Gulls are roosting. The outstanding development plans include fourteen holiday lets with balconies and hot tubs within 300m of the Gulls favoured roosting place. Evidence included in submissions to Southern Water shows that sites are  abandoned by roosts when they experience even small amounts of human evening disturbance (light and noise).

Evidence on the Gulls was set out in a report by an ecologist commissioned by a local Parish council. Local residents also commissioned an ecological review of the planning application, which found major issues with the developer’s ecological report and recommended it is re-done.

Wealden are due to make a decision imminently. Comments can be made on the planning application by emailing scott.carey@wealden.gov.uk (WD/2021/2924/F).
 
Please sign and send on this petition to demand Southern Water and Wealden put this very important international ecological risk ahead of a development for small, private gain.