22 January 2007 - South-East England’s Green Party Euro-MP Caroline Lucas has warned that the regional assembly’s development plan could lead to damage to East Hants wildlife sites of international importance.

The East Hampshire section of the South-East Plan will undergo public scrutiny by a panel of inspectors on Thursday (Jan 25) in Chichester. Dr Caroline Lucas, Green Party MEP for South-East of England, said the inspectors must pay heed to the Appropriate Assessment – a statutory document - that judges the potential impact of the plan on EU-designated wildlife sites.

Carried out by independent consultants, it warns that Buster Hill Special Area of Conservation (SAC), near Petersfield, is particularly at risk from air pollution from increased traffic on the A3 and they cannot be sure that it won’t be adversely affected by increased recreational activities as a result of population rises caused by the house-building programme proposed in the South-East Plan.

Other SAC sites that might be threatened by increased recreational activities were: Woolmer Forest , near Liss; Shortheath Common, near Bordon; and the East Hants Hangers. The increased pressures could take the form of greater disturbance of wildlife or increased erosion from more people using the site.

Woolmer Forest was also considered to be at risk from increased air pollution from the A3 and the A325 and the consultants were unable to conclude that there will be no adverse effect due to increased water abstraction in the county as a result of extra development – a problem that might also affect Shortheath Common.

Dr Lucas said: “The regional assembly is planning house-building on a massive scale – 6,100 homes a year in Hampshire until 2026 - and the Government would like to go even further.

“The aim is to enable more people to move to the area to boost its economic output, but this could easily be at the expense of the county’s natural assets.

“Development plans for the South-East of England need to be scaled down – not up as the Government wishes.”

ENDS

The South-East Plan Appropriate Assessment