Archived press release

New Councillors Urged to Save Wildlife Haven

26 May 1998

In a letter to every councillor, Mr Secrett called on them to support The Best of Both Worlds- Friends of Rainham Marsh's proposal which shows how the area can have both development and a World class wildlife reserve.

Matt Phillips wildlife campaigner of Friends of the Earth said: "Rainham Marsh is a nationally important wildlife site which could be the heart of a strategy to regenerate the area - but it does not have to be destroyed in the process. Genuinely derelict land in the area is suitable for regeneration while Rainham could be made into a wildlife reserve to attract visitors and school trips from the whole of Greater London."

A copy of the letter is attached.

Notes
[1] Inner Thames Marshes SSSI of which Rainham Marshes is part is by far the largest wetland area in Greater London and is one of the few remaining remnants of the marshes that once fringed the Thames. A significant population of Water voles (Arvicola terrestris) has recently been found on site and it is also visited by highly significant numbers of Teal as well as Short-eared owl, Godwit, Shoveller and redshank. The site is designated under Section 28 of the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act. It is owned by Havering Borough Council, but it has been much abused in the past by tipping of waste.This in turn has fuelled the misplaced opinion that the site is worthless and can only be improved by built 'development'.

English Partnerships has applied to Havering Borough Council to develop the area with what is understood to be 16m of public money. However, no private sector developer is involved and the application may be illegal (see below). Friends of the Earth wrote to John Prescott about the issue in January, but has still received no reply. Friends of Rainham Marsh have produced a report called The Best of Both Worlds (available on request) which shows the SSSI can be protected and development can be brought to the Borough securing both wildlife and regeneration of genuinely derelict land.

English Partnerships was set up in the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 where it is known as the Urban Regeneration Agency. Its prime duty under Section 159 of the Act is the redevelopment of vacant, unused,under-used, contaminated, derelict, neglected or unsightly land. In the case of Green field sites (like Rainham which is a SSSI), the agency can initiate development, but only if it has already received the 'directions' and 'consent' of the Secretary of State (paragraph (3) subsections (a) and (b)). If the Agency has not received these directions and consent (which is understood to be the case at Rainham), then the whole application may be illegal.

Visit Friends of the Earth's Wildplaces! website for details of threatened/damaged SSSIs in your area.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust