County wildlife trust left 'devastated' by appeal inspector's approval for housing estate on bird-rich wildlife site

                                                                       

Fieldfare - one of the winter-visiting species that could be lost to Longridge 

AN appeal inspector's decision to allow a housing development on nature-rich habitat in Cheshire has dismayed Cheshire Wildlife Trust.

It appears to spell doom for the Longridge Local Wildlife Site which lies on the outskirts of Knutsford 

"We are devastated," says the trust's planning manager Dr Rachel Giles. "This site is amongst the most valuable and important sites in the county for wildlife.

"It is a mosaic of oak woodland, wildflower grassland, scrub and ponds. 

"It is a haven for wildlife with flocks of Redwing, Fieldfare and finches in the winter months and numerous red and amber listed breeding birds in summer including Song Thrush and Willow Warbler.

"Remarkably, there are also three species of newt, which is extremely unusual for Cheshire.  

Continues Dr Giles: "Yet the appeal inspector has decided that the benefits of a new housing development outweigh the harm to nature.

"The decision over Longridge could have wide-reaching implications by setting a precedent for other similarly damaging applications across the country."

Cheshire East Council refused the planning application  for up to 225 houses, but the developer, Dewscope Ltd, chose to appeal, and the council decision was overturned earlier this week.

In his report, appeal inspector M Ian Dyer, who carried out a site  visit before reaching his decision, concludes: "No irreplaceable habitat would be lost."

                                                   

               Above and below - some of the trees at threat as a result of                                                      planning inspector's Longridge decision