Nature Conservation: EC Action

Environment Food and Rural Affairs written question – answered at on 25 July 2007.

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Photo of Martin Horwood Martin Horwood Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 17 May 2007, Official Report, column 887W, on nature conservation: EC action, if he will list the information on compensatory measures supplied to the European Commission as required under Article 6(4) of the Habitats Directive.

Photo of Joan Ruddock Joan Ruddock Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) (Climate Change, Biodiversity and Waste)

According to our records there have been several habitat compensation schemes secured as compensatory measures, under Article 6(4) of the EU Habitats Directive. This is to ensure that the overall coherence of the Natura 2000 network is protected. These are as follows.

Project Year consent given Type of consent European site affected
Harwich Haven to Felixstowe approach channel deepening by dredge 1998 The Coast Protection Act, 1949 and the Food and Environment Protection (FEPA) Act 1985 Stour and Orwell SPA Hamford Water SPA
A249 Iwade to Queensborough road improvement scheme 2000 Highways Act 1980 Medway Estuary and Marshes SPA
Humber Estuary flood management scheme 2001 Planning consent under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 Humber Flats, Marshes and Coast Phase 1 SPA
Hullbridge tidal flood scheme 2003 Planning consent under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 Couch and Roach Estuaries SPA Essex Estuaries SPA
Pett frontage tidal defence scheme 2004 Planning consent under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 Dungeness to Pett Levels SPA Dungeness SPA
Morecambe coastal defence works 2005 Planning consent under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 Morecambe Bay SAC and SPA
Road improvement to A830 trunk road from Mallaig to Lochailort 2007 Highways Act Glen Beasdale SAC

In addition, there were two consents granted subject to compensatory measures being secured as and when ongoing monitoring identified adverse effects on the European sites concerned. These are as follows:

Project Year consent given Type of consent European site affected
MOD Remote Ammunitioning Facility in the Tamar Estuary Plymouth 2000 Planning consent under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 Plymouth Sound and Estuaries SAC
Water abstraction at North Pickenham, Norfolk 2002 Water Resources Act 1991 Norfolk Valley Fens SAC

A review of the relevant records reveals some uncertainty as to the schemes in respect of which information has been sent to the Commission formally in accordance with Article 6(4) of the Habitats Directive. We are therefore in the process of sending them information on all those listed.

Does this answer the above question?

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No3 people think not

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