An Environment Agency investigation into the destruction of Priority Habitat at Wicklesham Quarry SSSI is underway, following a complaint in September. Photographic evidence we presented to Oxfordshire County Council's Planning & Regulation Committee in July this year has been sent to the Agency, together with a timeline of events. Meanwhile, local support for the campaign to Protect Wicklesham Quarry from Development continues to grow: the petition now has over 1,000 signatories.
What is clear and undisputed is that before Grundon Ltd commenced the so-called 'restoration scheme' in 2016, Wicklesham's two ponds (which must be preserved under planning conditions,) were in perfect condition. One held water a metre deep, with a further half a metre height from the surrounding ground level to the water surface. The ponds were mature breeding habitats for several species, including protected great crested newts. While Grundon was importing soil to raise the base level of the quarry, the ponds were trashed and - we now know- filled in. This campaign showed supporters photographs of the destruction of the ponds' trees and vegetation taken by the Monitoring Officer in October 2016. At the time we could only fear the full extent of what had been done. In July this year Enzygo Ltd, who carried out the 2013 Refresher Survey of Wicklesham's European Protected Species, told the County Council that the populations of great crested newts and other amphibians have completely disappeared, and there is no longer any water in either pond. A County Council ecologist referred to the 'distressing' situation of the ponds, describing them now as merely 'shallow depressions' in the ground.
The unwillingness of County Council executives to confront this wilful environmental destruction over the past two years calls into question the bona fides of Oxfordshire's environmental policies and the fitness of the County Council to manage the restoration of sensitive environmental sites. In a letter in August to Chief Executive, Peter Clark, we have called for all necessary action to be taken to restore the ponds, and for the prosecution of Grundon Ltd under the Conservation and Habitats Regulations 2017. We have also made a Freedom of Information Request for all Monitoring Officers' Reports since December 2016. These will show what action- if any - has been taken following the most recent in a long series of 'deadlines' for completion of the Restoration Scheme - 30th September 2018.
Please help to keep Faringdon's most important site for geo and biodiversity in the public eye by posting this update on social media. Thank you for your continuing support. Please get in touch with any questions or comments to protectwicklesham@gmail.com.
If you have any information regarding the destruction of Wicklesham's ponds you can write in confidence to protectwicklesham@gmail.com, or contact the Regulatory Officer at the Environment Agency directly: matthew.kendall@environment-agency.gov.uk, quoting the reference: THMGE4089 _PJW (NIRS ref: 01645268) Wicklesham Quarry SSSI, Oxfordshire.