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15
Mar
Six newt ponds to be created on Ouseburn councillor’s land
Six ponds for the under-threat great crested newt will be created on land owned by Green Party councillor for Ouseburn Arnold Warneken.
The amphibian is protected under law and is recognised in the UK as an 'at risk' species, in part due to the loss of habitat through the impact of development such as housebuilding and farming.
It’s believed that 50% of the UK’s ponds were lost during the 20th century, whilst the majority of the remaining ponds are classed as being in a poor state.
Sheffield-based community interest company Wildscapes submitted a planning application to North Yorkshire Council for six ponds on land near Cowthorpe owned by Cllr Warneken.
Five of them will be sited at Goosemoor Nature Reserve.
Wildscapes has created around 200 similar ponds in the last three years across Yorkshire and it has submitted a flurry of similar applications for ponds in Nidderdale over the last few months.
Cllr Warneken spoke at Selby and Ainsty’s planning committee this week which voted to approve the plans.
He said:
Cllr Bob Packham, the Labour councillor for Sherburn in Elmet, described the plans as a “no-brainer". He added:
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