A Bicester resident who has been investigating the ecological evidence behind the proposed asylum accommodation centre at MOD Bicester has now demonstrated her concerns in a short video filmed beside a local pond.
Claire, whose independent research recently identified records for a number of protected species on and around the proposed development site, visited the area to show first-hand evidence of great crested newts.
In the video below, Claire stands beside the pond and demonstrates the presence of great crested newts — one of the protected species she says has been overlooked within the ecological information submitted as part of the government’s proposals.
The video follows Claire’s detailed review of publicly available wildlife records, which identified records for protected bats, badgers, otters and breeding great crested newts on and around the MOD Bicester site.
Those findings appear to conflict with statements within the ecological assessment accompanying the proposal, which reported that no records had been identified for a number of these species.
The significance of this is not simply whether an individual species can be found in one particular pond. It raises a wider question about whether the ecological evidence being used to assess a development of this scale is sufficiently complete and robust.
Protected species and their habitats are an important part of the planning process. Where questions remain about the underlying surveys and available records, we believe those questions should be properly investigated before any decision is made.
This is why your objection matters
There is still an opportunity for local residents to make their concerns known.
If you believe the ecological evidence, site suitability and wider impacts of this proposal need to be properly examined before a decision is taken, please submit your objection now.
PLACE YOUR OBJECTIONEvery objection helps ensure that the Secretary of State understands the strength of local concern and the questions that remain unanswered about the proposed MOD Bicester asylum accommodation centre.
