HL Deb 26 March 1986 vol 472 c1487WA
Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will state, in respect of Sherburn Willows SSSI:

  1. (a) what percentage of the area of this SSSI, as notified on 21st February 1985, has been damaged;
  2. (b) the nature of the damage done to part of the site; and
  3. (c) the area of the SSI as notified in February 1985, and the area they expect to remain an SSSI when the Nature Conservancy Council fix modified boundaries for this site.

Lord Elton

The information is as follows:

  1. (a) the area of the site originally proposed as an SSSI was 5.3 hectares, of which about 11 per cent. was damaged;
  2. (b) excavation of ponds for wildfowl, and levelling and seeding of associated land which destroyed reed beds;
  3. (c) the SSSI now formally notified under the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1985 totals 4.7 hectares.

Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they can now confirm that Sherburn Willows Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) was notified to some owners and occupiers as an SSSI by the Nature Conservancy Council on 21st February 1985, and, if so, whether they will correct their Answer given to Lord Melchett on 21st February 1986 (col. 811), in which they said that Sherburn Willows "is not yet notified as a site of special scientific interest".

Lord Elton

The original Answer was correct. Since the service of the original notices was found to be defective, the site could not be regarded as an SSSI. It was formally notified, with modified boundaries, on 18th March 1986.

Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the Sherburn Willows SSSI did not meet the criteria set out in Section 29 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, in view of the fact that it was notified as an SSSI on 21st February 1985.

Lord Elton

It appeared that on the evidence available the site could not be regarded as being of national, as opposed to local, importance.

Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On what date the Nature Conservancy Council first asked them to make an order under Section 29 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in respect of Sherburn Willows SSSI.

Lord Elton

On 19th December 1984.