Archived press release

Meacher asks english nature chief to reconsider plans to end rare peat bogs protection

21 October 1997

Environment Minister Michael Meacher has asked [1] the Chief Executive of English Nature, Dr Derek Langslow, to reconsider plans to remove legal protection from parts of Thorne and Hatfield Moors, near Doncaster - England's largest lowland raised peatbogs.

Mr Meacher's intervention followed a meeting in London yesterday (Monday 20 October)between the Minister, English Nature, Friends of the Earth and local Labour MPs Caroline Flint and Kevin Hughes. The meeting was called because of the outcry from environmentalists and local people after English Nature announced that it intended to remove Site of Special Scientific Interest status from parts of Thorne and Hatfield Moors. A Public Meeting held in Thorne earlier this month - attended by Dr Langslow - attracted over 400 angry locals.

When asked by Mr Meacher if anyone was in favour of removing the protection Dr Langslow admitted, “I don't think we've had a letter of support”.

English Nature claims that the hundreds of hectares of the sites it proposes to denotify have no wildlife interest worth protecting - a fact hotly disputed by environmentalists and local authorities. Even the Environment Agency oppose the plans. A letter from the Agency[to English Nature], obtained by FOE (attached), says that English Nature's approach is “fundamentally wrong” and that “the safe future of the land portrayed in your brief is misleading and not so comforting as you suggest”. The Moors have been damaged by peat cutting by Levingtons thanks to ancient planning permissions.

Robin Maynard, FOE's Local Campaigns Director, who attended Monday's meeting, said:“We're delighted that Mr Meacher has asked Dr Langslow to reconsider plans to end legal protection for parts of these amazing wildlife sites. His interest is welcome because English Nature seems determined to allow legal protection to be eroded.”

Notes
[1] After hearing the opposing arguments put forward by those attending the meeting Mr Meacher said “I would very much like the [EN] Council to reconsider”. Dr Langslow replied “I promise they will do that”.

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