1) Wicklesham Quarry is part of West Oxfordshire Heights Conservation Target Area (CTA).

The CTAs “are the most important areas for wildlife where targeted conservation action will have the maximum benefit. Their aim is to restore biodiversity at a landscape-scale through the maintenance, restoration and creation of BAP priority habitats.”

“Biodiversity Action Plan species include rare and declining species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, plants and fungi.”

Wicklesham Quarry fulfils all the aims of the CTA and more. TVERC’s Biodiversity Report for Wicklesham Quarry lists more than 30 Priority Species (also known as S41 species), including amphibians, birds, beetles, terrestrial mammals, reptiles, and bats. It lists 18 species of birds that are on DEFRA’s RED LIST, and 25 AMBER LIST.

 An aquifer flows close to the surface, feeding ponds and providing breeding habitat for Great Crested Newts and numerous other species. Two of Wicklesham’s ponds were surveyed for the ENZYGO REPORT 2013, which is part of the Approved Restoration Scheme.

For the past two years, the applicants have sought to deny and downplay Wicklesham’s importance for biodiversity. They claim the quarry has 'minimal biodiversity interest'. BBOWT (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust) has consistently refuted their claims, stating that the Approved Restoration Scheme IS the ‘Biodiversity Baseline’ – regardless of whether the landowner carried it out or not.

In the latest documents, the applicants’ ecologist, David Broom, argues that, since the quarry would be ‘urban land’ following development, its habitat would have ‘low strategic significance’- as the CTA does not include any urban land!!

In other words, the applicants admit that turning Wicklesham Quarry into ‘urban land’ would demonstrably destroy its strategic value as part of the CTA. Even more important- it would fundamentally damage its existing habitats and species. Using this argument the applicants have decisively shot themselves in the foot!!

2) The constantly repeated claim that Wicklesham Quarry has minimal value for biodiversity is objectively contradicted by:

• TVERC’s Biodiversity Report
• The Enzygo Report 2013
• The Approved Restoration Scheme
• The Ground Conditions Report and District Council’s flood map – both of which show the aquifer.

3) Contrary to the requirements of Oxfordshire County Council’s Validation List, the applicant has:

• failed to submit the required documents (listed above) detailing Wicklesham Quarry’s habitat and ecology;
• failed to carry out any Priority Species Assessments, in spite of reports that describe their presence;
• failed to acknowledge the key habitat of the aquifer.

The applicants state: “all habitats within the pre-development site (using both the approved quarry restoration scheme and the current site condition as baseline characterisations) and within proposals for habitat creation and enhancement are considered to be of Low Strategic Significance.”

4) CORE POLICY 46: CONSERVATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF BIODIVERSITY

The 2031 Local Plan Core Policy 46 states:

• Development likely to result in the loss, deterioration or harm to habitats or species of importance to biodiversity or of importance for geological conservation interests, either directly or indirectly, will not be permitted unless:

i. the need for, and benefits of, the development in the proposed location outweighs the adverse effect on the relevant biodiversity interest;

ii. it can be demonstrated that it could not reasonably be located on an alternative site that would result in less or no harm to the biodiversity interests; and

iii. measures can be provided (and are secured through planning conditions or legal agreements), that would avoid, mitigate against or, as a last resort, compensate for, the adverse effects likely to result from development.

• The habitats and species of importance to biodiversity and sites of geological interest considered in relation to points i) to iii) comprise:

• Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

• Local Wildlife Sites

• Local Nature Reserves

• Priority Habitats and Species listed in the national and local Biodiversity Action Plan

• Ancient Woodland and veteran trees

• Legally Protected Species

• Locally Important Geological Sites

We say: - Whether or not habitats and species are ‘strategically significant’ is NOT determined by the CTA targets, OR whether or not a site is ‘urban land’. It is decided by Core Policy 46, quoted above. It is undeniable that building on Wicklesham Quarry would cause loss, detiorioration and harm to the SSSI, Priority Habitats and Species, and Legally Protected Species.

• WICKLESHAM QUARRY IS PROTECTED FROM HARMFUL, URBAN DEVELOPMENT UNDER CORE POLICY 46 OF THE LOCAL PLAN 2031.

5) Everyone who has followed Wicklesham Quarry over the past eleven years has seen Oxfordshire County Council’s dismal failure to protect the ponds and ensure that the Restoration Scheme was PROPERLY carried out. Local people witnessed the destruction of two of the ponds. Pond 1 – above, in May 2016, was filled in two months after this photograph was taken. Pond 2, a very large pond which held over a metre of water, was filled in later the same year.

The applicants' ecologist falsely attempts to claim that the ponds were ‘created’ as part of the Restoration, and have since ‘failed’.  The fact is - they failed after they were filled in - over A YEAR BEFORE ANY RESTORATION HAD BEEN STARTED. 

After two and half years of shameful denials, lies, and fictions, it is time to consign this application to where it belongs, to bring back Wicklesham’s 2 missing ponds, and to allow the quarry’s rare and treasured wildlife to continue to thrive in peace.

A further consultation is open until midnight 11th November. Have YOUR say on the fake claims while there's time. ( Although somehow I doubt it will be the last!!)

You can read more here: https://www.change.org/p/the-vale-of-white-horse-district-council-and-secretary-of-state-michael-gove-protect-wicklesham-quarry-from-development/u/33558442

If you would like a copy of any of the documents or reports eferred to above, please dop me an email. Keep in touch by email: protectwicklesham@gmail.com