THE SENTINEL (Stokes, UK) 25 August 10 Park plan accepted despite rare newts (Richard Ault)
Jobs have been put before protected wildlife after councillors approved plans to build an employment park that would create 4,000 new posts.
Last night, Newcastle Borough Council allowed UK Coal to extend its existing approval for an employment and leisure park at Chatterley Valley, which is anticipated to be a cornerstone of regeneration in North Staffordshire.
It means the firm, which owns the site but is not the developer, has an extra seven years to press ahead with the scheme for offices, warehousing, industrial units, a hotel, bar and leisure facilities.
But rare and protected moths, newts and butterflies have all been found on the site.
And Natural England is now considering making Chatterley Valley a Site of Specialist Scientific Interest, because there are so many great crested newts.
That would mean the organisation had greater powers to safeguard the site and protect the rare wildlife.
However, currently, Natural England has no objections to the proposals.
Bignall End resident and ecologist Colin Hays spoke against the scheme at last night's planning committee meeting.
He said: "I had expected this note from Natural England might have altered the officers' recommendation (for approval of the application).
"I have very severe reservations about this development.
"Unfortunately, several very poorly-informed planning decisions have affected this land over the last four or five years.
"All these were based on inaccurate and incomplete surveys.
"It is recognised as a site of national importance. I can only see the development as being of regional importance."
Mr Hayes suggested the presence of rare species on the land, including the dingy skipper butterfly, hawk moth, great crested newts and other protected species meant it should be joined with Bathpool Country Park to make a huge nature reserve.
However, councillors said the development was too important for the future regeneration of North Staffordshire to refuse.
Councillor Simon Tagg, the Conservative leader of the authority, said: "This is a significant site for the region.
"We must not underestimate the impact it can have on people's lives and bring better and more jobs to the area.
"Since 2003 a number of applications have come to us and we have looked at length for the protection of species."
Councillor Robin Studd, of the Liberal Democrats, said: "This is an employment site. It's vital to the future success and regeneration of the area.
"Whatever our views on great crested newts, we have got to bite the bullet and accept that this application has to go forward."
Councillor John Cooper, Conservative, said: "This has been well known as an industrial site for a good few years.
"Anyone employed here is going to be lucky. They are going to be surrounded by nature reserves.
"I think a butterfly can fly that far. I would think a greater crested newt could crawl that far too."
A duplicate application has gone to Stoke-on-Trent City Council, which is necessary because the site falls under both boundaries.
Original developer ProLogis has dropped out of the scheme, but a spokesman for UK Coal insisted it was committed to creating the employment park.
The spokesman said the extra time would give the firm confidence to proceed.
Park plan accepted despite rare newts