The Government’s Infrastructure and Planning Billl
is a radical overhaul of the planning system, it aims ‘to replace the current systems of environmental assessment (scrapping surveys) to deliver a more effective and streamlined system that reduces costs and delays for developers, whilst still protecting the environment.’
The Kent Bat Group and many other environmental and ecological groups have serious concerns that the Bill, as it is written, will not meet those aims at the detriment to our already declining wildlife, and urges our members to contact their MPs to object. We have drafted a template that can be used to send an email and it can be downloaded here. The second reading of the Bill was on Monday 24th March and it is now in its Committee stage which will be followed by the Report stage during which all MP's can comment and suggest amendments. The next discussion will be 24th April when our MPs can contribute, please email yours before then and remember to include your address, MPs can only speak for their constituents.
Find your MP's contact details here.
Our objection letter to Kent's MPs.
Our favourite bat links:
- The Bat Conservation Trust - The UK's national bat conservation body
- The Bat Conservation Trust - BCT Bat Group Bulletins
- Kent Bat Box Design - A simple to construct, self-cleaning and low maintenance bat box designed by Kent Bat Group
- The Kent Mammal Atlas - a collaborative project between Kent Mammal Group (KMG), the Kent Bat Group (KBG), Kent and Medway Biological Records Centre (KMBRC) and the East and West Kent Badger Groups. Published in 2015
- Bizzy Illustrations - A Kent artist producing bat design products and gifts
Other sites:
- KMBRC - The Kent and Medway Biological Records Centre collects records of Kent’s bats and other wildlife
- Kent Wildlife Trust
- Kent Mammal Group
Information Sheets:
- Gardening for bats by Kent Bat Group
