Press release
Pickles rejects peat extraction plan at Chat Moss
9 November 2012
Welcoming Eric Pickles' decision today (Friday 9 November 2012 ) to uphold Salford Council's refusal to give planning permission for peat-extraction at Chat Moss, near Manchester, Friends of the Earth's North West Regional Campaigner Helen Rimmer said:
"It's a huge relief that common sense has prevailed and Eric Pickles has refused to allow further peat extraction at Chat Moss.
"It beggars belief that in 2012 companies still want to destroy British peat bogs. These are important wildlife sites that 'lock in' carbon and reduce flood risk.
"The Government has rightly set targets to end the use of peat in horticulture and there are plenty of peat-free alternatives - digging up bogs for our gardens is unnecessary vandalism and must be stopped."
ENDS
1. Government decision on Chat Moss.
2. A public inquiry began in March this year into whether peat extraction should continue at Chat Moss following a decision by Salford City Council's Planning and Transport Regulatory Panel to refuse permission in June 2011. The Panel refused to grant permission on four grounds - one reason was that the continued extraction of peat will lead to significant carbon dioxide emissions.
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Nov 2012
