Liz Hogger, Effingham Parish Councillor, and Guildford Borough Councillor says “If new houses are built, we have no choice but to provide SANGs under the council’s own strategy to steer people away from the Special Protection Areas“.
Wisley and Ockham Commons, within the Green Belt, are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) which means they are protected at the national level, and also part of the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA), which means they are protected at the European level. A large number of visitors can cause disturbance to nesting birds. Hence, new developments within 5km of the SPA require mitigation measures to encourage people to visit other sites. For example, part of Effingham Common is a SANG. This is why GBC are proposing lots more SANGs, so they can build more houses. Further details on the avoidance strategy can be found here.
The latest Guildford Borough Council press release states
Recreation and leisure choices highlighted in Local Plan for residents, visitors, shoppers and wildlife
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Sizeable protected areas, especially AONBs and SPAs, lead to demand for more SANGs
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Some 250ha of new open space to be created, larger than the area of Monaco
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Local Plan addresses future needs of recreation, leisure, retail and tourism
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Guildford Borough Council working to balance the needs of all, not just a minority