1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Qualifications and experience
My name is Paul Hibberd and I currently work as a Countryside Ranger for Hampshire County Council, based at Lepe Country Park.
Previously a resident of Torbay for 26 years, I worked from April1993 to May 1995 as a Countryside Ranger for Torbay Borough Council, based initially at Cockington Country Park and latterly at Berry Head Country Park.
I hold a BA (Hons) degree in Business and Recreation Management
2 NATURE OF EVIDENCE
The purpose of this evidence is to show that the proposed Torbay Ring Road will have unacceptable ecological and landscape impacts.
3 SPECIES
3.1 Birds
3.1.1 Cirl Bunting
The most notable species of bird recorded in the Westerland Valley is the Cirl
Bunting Emberiza cirlus. This bird is protected under schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the EC Birds Directive and Appendix II of the Berne Convention. During 1991 the RSPB recorded 12 breeding territories within the Valley, at a time when these were recorded nationally.
The publication 'Red Data - Birds in Britain' (Batten et al 1990) describes the Cirl Bunting as having its stronghold in Devon, but being
"a vulnerable and declining species."
Indeed, since the 1991 survey breeding numbers have fallen within the Westerland Valley. The 1991 survey, however, shows the potential importance of the Westerland Valley for this species. Along with the Stone Curlew, the Cirl Bunting is the only bird in the entire South West Region for which the RSPB has a project officer. Without the habitat loss and disturbance of Stage 3, the RSPB could encourage land management suitable to return the Westerland Valley to a nationally important stronghold for this bird. According to Cousins (1996), either route would affect recorded nest sites, wintering sites and summer and winter feeding habitat.
3.1.2 Barn Owl
Roost sites for the Barn Owl Tyto alba have been found within the Valley. This bird is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the EC Birds Directive and Appendix II of the Berne Convention.
Either route will result in the loss of a recorded roost site and good quality hunting territory.
3.1.3 Other birds
The Lesser Whitethroat, Sylvia curruca a scarce migrant, is found within the Valley.
The Skylark, Alauda arvensis and Linnet, Carduelis cannabina are both found within the Valley at a time when they have undergone a sharp national decline (Marchant et al 1990).
3.2 Invertebrates
Cousins (1996) concluded that:
"The rich contiguous habitats of the Westerland Valley supported
a wide variety of Invertebrates."
Both routes would result in the loss of invertebrate habitat.
Of particular note is the variety of Lepidotera. Cousins (1996) states that:
" A number of species were of local, national and international importance."
This included the Jersey Tiger Moth Euolagia quadripunctaria. This species is listed under Annex IIa of the EC Habitats Directive, and by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee as Nationally Notable Category A.
The habitat of this moth, described as "internationally notable" (Cousins 1996) would be negatively affected by either route.
Additionally the scarce and declining Great Green Bush Cricket Tettigonia viridissima was found within the Valley. Contrary to the habitat becoming rank and so less suitable for this species as stated by Cousins (1996).
Marshall (1990) states:
"Tettigonia viridissima is primarily a species of wasteland where there is rough untouched herbage with plenty of thistles, bracken and other unkempt scrub."
3.3 Mammals
3.3.1 Badger
Badgers Meles Meles have been recorded within the Valley. Badgers and their setts are protected under the Badger Act 1992. Both routes would result in the loss of 2 setts.
3.3.2 Bats
Three species of bat were recorded within the Valley. All bats and their roosts are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Either route would result in a loss of feeding pasture and navigational routes.
3.3.3 Other mammals
Hedgehog Erinaceus europeaus, stoat Mustela ermina and weasel Mustela nivalis are all protected under Appendix III of the Berne Convention.
3.4 Other species
The Grass Snake Natrix natrix and Slow Worm Anguis fragilis are both protected under Appendix III of the Berne Convention.
The Common Frog is protected by the EC Habitats Directive and listed under Appendix III of the Berne Convention.
The Common Toad is listed under Appendix III of the Berne Convention and Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
4 HABITATS
The Westerland Valley contains a rich variety of habitat, made all the more important by the urban area to the East, and more heavily improved farmland to the West.
Evaluating the habitats, Cousins (1996) stated:
"Many of these were semi natural and of ecological value"
Although currently not under a scientific designation, areas of the Valley are considered rich and important enough to be so.
The Torbay Wildlife Survey recommended the designation of the Great Park Lakes area as a local Nature Reserve.
Cousins (1996) stated in the case of the Jersey Tiger Moth found in the Valley:
"The presence of this species would act in favour of the designation of a Site of Special Scientific Interest as a Special Area of Conservation"
under the EC Habitats Directive.
Species rich grassland and mature hedgerows would be destroyed, both of which have suffered dramatic national decline this century. Between 1984 and 1990 alone, 23 % of our hedgerows were lost (Countryside Survey 1990).
Additionally the aggregate required for construction of the road, some 64,950 m3 of material for the Plateau route and 148,000m3 of material for the Valley route is likely to lead to further habitat destruction where it is quarried.
4.1 Habitat fragmentation
Additional to the net loss of vulnerable habitat, remaining habitat will be fragmented. This has potentially disastrous effects for important species such as the Cirl Bunting and Jersey Tiger Moth. Studying birds, Newton (1995) found that:
"The more the habitats are fragmented, the more likely are species with special habitat or areas needs to disappear"
and
"if these points hold for birds which are among the most mobile of organisms they surely apply to other less mobile."
Slater (1984) found evidence that roads can act as barriers and hazards to a variety of wildlife, including birds, amphibians, mammals and insects:
"migrating amphibians might find that a road separates their terrestrial habitat from their breeding ponds"
Dennis (1986) found that roads impose barriers on supposedly mobile taxa - a study showed that only 2% of the population of Orange Tip Butterflys Authocharis cardamines crossed the M56 in Cheshire.
Additionally wildlife mortality would increase as a result of collision with cars. Two protected species within the Valley, Barn, Owls and Badgers - are notoriously susceptible to road death.
Slater (1994) also found that:
"Birds dipping in flight as they fly from peripheral hedge to peripheral hedge often collide with cars"
This implies that the Cirl Bunting along with other birds could well become a victim of motorised traffic.
Kirby(1986) discussed research which showed how breeding bird populations were reduced close to roads, probably because of the increased noise.
This has potentially serious implication for the cirl buntings within the Westerland Valley, and brings into question the effectiveness of any proposed mitigation for the Cirl Bunting population.
5 LANDSCAPE
The Westerland Valley and the land enclosing it has been designated an Area of Great Landscape Value (AGLV).
Pickthorne (1996) found that:
"The Valley is unused in that it is so close to an urban area and yet so unaffected by it. For most of its length it is extraordinarily peaceful and quiet with a feeling of remoteness sometimes not found even in more rural area where noise frequently infringes on the atmosphere"
Devon County Council's own Policy guidance CDE4 states:
"In areas of Great Landscape Value development will only be permitted which has no significant adverse effects on the speciallandscape character of the area"
The former quote eloquently describes the peaceful character of the Valley, whilst the latter states it would be against Devon County Council's own policy to pursue this scheme, as clearly any road will have a "significant adverse effect on the special landscape character.
6 SUSTAINABILITY
6.1 Government UK Strategy
The document 'Sustainable Development The UK Strategy' lists one of the key issues for sustainability:
"to protect, as far as possible, the countryside for its landscape,
wildlife, agriculture. recreation and natural resource value."
The proposals for the Westerland Valley are totally incompatible with these requirements.
The document goes on to state that an objective for conserving biodiversity is:
"To conserve and where applicable to enhance the overall
populations and natural ranges of native species and the
quality and range of wildlife habitat and ecosystems."
Acknowledging our lack of complete knowledge regarding our wildlife and our effects upon it, the document states:
"Even in a well studied country such as the UK, knowledge
of the major groups of living organisms is uneven."
and that as an underlying principle:
"The precautionary principle should guide decisions."
6.2 Sustainable Use of Soil
Development of the Plateau route would cause 16ha of habitat loss, the Valley route 25ha
Reporting on the sustainable use of soil, the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution noted:
"The losses can be regarded as in effect irreversible, and
reduce the ability of this and future generations to respond
to the challenges and uncertainties created by global population
increases and climate change, They also reduce the capacity
of the countryside to supply the environmental goods which are
recognised as being of increasing importance."
The Commission concluded:
"A fundamental consideration is to minimise further loss of
green field land important for agriculture, conservation and amenity."
The Westerland Valley land is important for all three.
7 A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE
I grew up in Torbay and spent the first 26 years of my life there. The area and its environment are very special to me and to many thousands of others.
I feel both sad and angry that we have to continuously justify the existence of our natural environment and look for reasons and rarities to save it.
This land is part of our heritage - its history and wildlife combine to make it a special place, valuable for people, wildlife and in its own right. It deserves to be respected and protected.
8 CONCLUSION
Either route would have significant detrimental impacts on ecologically important habitats and a number of notable and protected species.
From an ecological point of view the construction of Stage 3 of the Torbay Ring Road, through or around Westerland Valley is not acceptable.
