More bad news for Cufaude Lane’s Common Toads

Yet another development has been proposed for Cufaude Lane, one that would have a devastating impact on the area’s amphibian population. If permitted, it would destroy terrestrial habitat for Common Toads, Common Frogs, Smooth Newts and Great Crested Newts. But more importantly it would destroy and block an important part of their migration route as they try to move from terrestrial habitat on the east of Cufaude Lane to ancestral ponds on the west in spring, and in the reverse direction in autumn.

Cufaude Lane hosts what are probably the best amphibian populations in north Hampshire. For example, numbers of breeding Common Toads are estimated to be in the tens of thousands. If you care about the fate of these beleaguered creatures you can write a letter of objection to Basingstoke & Deane’s planning department.

To follow are some instructions for how to submit a comment to the council, followed by a draft letter, the text of which can be used to craft your own letter.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Type into a search engine: ‘Basingstoke & Deane View and comment on a planning application‘ and click the link to open the page

Click on: View or make a comment on a planning application

Type 23/01646/FUL into the search box

Click on ‘Comments’ in the top bar, and then ‘Make a Comment‘

Either login and make a comment, or register first

Having logged in you can copy, edit/rewrite and paste elements of the following text

But make sure you click the Object box

DRAFT LETTER:

Planning Application 23/01646/FUL

I would like to object to the above planning application.

The application site is at the heart of the most important area in north Hampshire for amphibians, and in particular Common Toads Bufo bufo. Land on either side of Cufaude Lane provides terrestrial habitat for amphibians outside the breeding season. More importantly, however, it is a major route for migrating animals travelling from wintering grounds further afield on the east of the byway to traditional breeding ponds on the west. Blocking their passage by building a house on a key part of their migration route would be another catastrophic blow to Common Toads and other amphibians.

The Environment Act 2021 requires local authorities to actively promote biodiversity and have particular regard for Priority Species. The Common Toad is one such Priority Species and this contributed to the decision by Basingstoke & Deane’s Development Control Committee to unanimously refuse planning application 22/00444/PIP on the opposite side of the road from the current application.

The Cufaude Lane Toad Rescue Group patrols the road at migration times and rescues amphibians from being killed by cars as they cross the road. The stretch of byway immediately adjacent to Cufaude Manor is by far the most important stretch of the road for amphibian migration.

This spring the figures were as follows: Common Toads 531 saved, 96 killed; Common Frogs 74 saved, 28 killed; Smooth Newts 161 saved, 34 killed; Great Crested Newts 3 saved, 3 killed. During an unprecedented period of autumn migration last week, the patrollers rescued 176 Common Toads and 2 Great Crested Newts along the stretch of road immediately adjacent to Cufaude Manor and the location of Planning Application 23/01646/FUL.

In biodiversity reports submitted in support of the application, I can find no mention of the significance for Common Toads of Cufaude Lane and Cufaude Manor.

No remedial action associated with Planning Application 23/01646/FUL could ever compensate for the destruction of an ancestral and traditional amphibian migration route. I urge the council to reject this application.