Agenda item

To deal with any questions submitted under Council Procedure Rule 2.2(vi).

The following question was put to the Leader of the Council by Kerry Gormley, in accordance with Council Procedure 2.2(vi):-

“Although currently classed as brownfield land, Huncoat Colliery is more like a nature reserve and the local community want this valuable habitat to be given protected status not developed.  Huncoat Colliery is one of the best places in Hyndburn to see butterflies, wildflowers and other wildlife.

Since the Colliery stopped operating in the 1960s, the land has been reclaimed by nature and is now a haven for wildlife.  Recently Hyndburn Butterfly Project has recorded sightings of 21 butterfly species at Huncoat Colliery, 13 of which are in decline, including 2 species classed as a priority in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (Small Heath and White-letter Hairstreak).  Butterflies are attracted to Huncoat Colliery by large areas of wildflowers, including stunning patches of wild orchids. Huncoat Colliery is an accessible site which gives local people easy access to nature, as well as providing educational interest.

That, Huncoat Colliery has been earmarked for housing development is terrible news for local biodiversity, as we stand to lose an area rich in wildlife at a time when it’s more important than ever to protect the precious habitat we have left.  In 2014, WWF-UK reported in its Living Planet report that Earth has lost half its wildlife in the last 40 years.  However, worse is to come as climate change and habitat loss are leading us into the Sixth Mass Extinction.  In the 40 years that the world has witnessed critical losses of species, the former colliery site has become a haven for thriving nature.

This site has the potential to be a destination and a contribution to tourism in the Borough.

With other less biodiverse lands available in and around Huncoat we ask that this site is given special protection and that The Leader of Hyndburn Borough Council calls a special full council meeting where experts and local people can present their case as to why this habitat needs to be saved from development.  Can he do this?”

The Leader of the Council thanked Kerry Gormley for her question to Full Council.  He reported that the Huncoat Colliery site was allocated as a strategic housing site by the adopted Hyndburn Core Strategy and that this was one of a number of sites that were currently being considered in the preparation of the Huncoat Garden Village Masterplan.  As part of the Masterplan option development, Ecology surveys had been undertaken.  He reported that the surveys confirmed that the former Colliery site contained “neutral grasslands that support a species-rich flora” and the habitat with the site “may support invertebrates of conservation concern”.

He reported that these findings would be reflected in the Garden Village Masterplan preferred option, which would be subject to further consultation in March and that planning applications would give consideration to any protected or endangered species and habitats in line with national and local planning policy.  He advised that any results from further surveys showing that the Huncoat Colliery site was important for invertebrates would require development mitigation proposals to included retention or re-creation of suitable habitat.  

The Mayor thanked Kerry Gormley for the submission of her question.