The Wildlife Trust urges East West Rail to enhance protection for habitats and rare bats along its route.
The Wildlife Trust warned about habitat fragmentation. The railway plans affect West Cambridgeshire Hundreds. These areas form a vital wildlife network.
Barbastelle bats are at risk due to the railway. These bats live in Wimpole, Eversden, and Hardwick Woods. These woods have special protected status.
The Wildlife Trust responded to a railway consultation. This railway costs £6 billion and links Oxford to Cambridge. They say a southern route harms nature more. A new station resides in Cambourne.
Martin Baker wants transport links to be sustainable. He says climate change threatens nature. Plans must limit harm to wildlife. He wants the plans to protect them.
Cambridgeshire has rare barbastelle bats. Protecting vital habitats is very important. Woodland networks help nature recover. The Trust fears these railway plans will undo that. Planners should consider the nature in this area anew. A northern route might impact wildlife less.
East West Rail says they connect communities. They want affordable homes and jobs. The railway minimizes the impact on nature.
They design it to avoid costly mitigation. They work with Natural England for proper guidance. They want to reduce impacts on species and habitats. They gathered data about local bats.
Barbastelle bats live near Eversden and Wimpole Woods. Laws protect these bats under UK law. Information guides minimizing the railway’s impact.
Rachel Reeves said to focus on building. She told the industry to worry less about animals. She mentioned the cost of a bat tunnel for HS2. It costs over £100 million.
That decision has made infrastructure too expensive. She announced reduced environmental rules for developers. They can pay into a nature restoration fund.
In Bedfordshire, the Wildlife Trust wants woodland protection. They want planners to consider construction’s cumulative impact. They mention the Universal Studios plan near Bedford.