Only a few days left in the consultation by Oxfordshire County Council. This is your chance to urge the County Council to carry out a new survey of the ponds by Enzygo Ltd., in order to assess and try to put right the damage. Say NO to this application (MW.0084/17) -until and unless and a new survey is carried out. http://myeplanning.oxfordshire.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/WPHAPPDETAIL.DisplayUrl?theApnID=MW.0084/17&theTabNo=3&backURL=%3Ca Supporters have seen the photos taken in 2016 by the County Council's Monitoring Officer- showing pond 1 as it was in May 2016, and then in October (above), completely stripped of trees and vegetation. (Email me at protectwicklesham@gmail.com for copies of these pictures.) So far OCC Director of Planning and Place, Susan Halliwell has dismissed this evidence, and even claimed that the protected pond habitat did not include the vegetation!! In spite of the fact that Planning Conditon 20 (MW.0134/15) sought: “To ensure the protection of flora and fauna and to ensure that the development does not result in the loss of biodiversity. Policy: VoWHLP NE5.” The Enzygo Report (2013 GCN Refresher Survey) which forms part of the original planing specifications states: 18.8 “Edge habitat will be maximised – the edge transition zones (or ecotones) will be maximised by sinuosity. There will be a tolerance of varying water levels – some of the pond area will be ephemeral. However the design will seek to preserve a proportion of open-water throughout the year. The pond will be supported primarily by groundwater. Irregular and uneven edges will be created to maximise ecotones. The pond will be allowed to colonise with flora and fauna naturally.” In our view the damage to the ponds is a clear breach of planning conditions and a breach of the Conservation of Species & Habitats Regulations 2010 which prohibits: “Damage or destruction of an EPS breeding site or resting place.” No doubt County Council Officers would like this matter to disappear quietly: they have failed to respond to calls for them to take action. Please let Council officers and elected members know that local people are watching! I have submitted to the County Council that no alteration to the planning conditions should be considered in the present circumstances, and suggested that: "a full survey of the ponds should now be carried out by Enzygo Ltd, including re-measuring the depths of these water bodies. I am concerned that the visible damage may only be part of what has been done to the ponds, which are under considerable threat because of aspirations to use this nationally designated and vulnerable site for industrial purposes." Please help to protect Wicklesham's threatened biodiversity by adding your voice to the objections before 2nd November. Click on the link below: http://myeplanning.oxfordshire.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/WPHAPPDETAIL.DisplayUrl?theApnID=MW.0084/17&theTabNo=3&backURL=%3Ca