Environment – Expert Witness : Environment – page 7

Protests as National Grid announces pylon route for Welsh windfarms

Nat Grid National Grid has announced the route corridor and substation site to connect proposed new windfarms in Mid Wales to the high-voltage electricity network in Shropshire. Cefn Coch in Powys has been identified as the preferred area for the substation and the 'red north' route via Llansantffraid to Lower Frankton in Shropshire as the preferred route corridor.

According to the announcement, on 31 July: "Listening to local views has played an important part in this decision. National Grid has consulted extensively with local people and specialist bodies, and has weighed up issues such as landscape, flooding, heritage, ecology, tourism and transport. The selection also takes into account the proposed connections from the windfarms to the new substation by ScottishPower Energy Networks (SPEN) and SSE Renewables (SSE)."

Wildlife review gets underway

Picture of a forest for expert witness environment story This month sees the start of a periodic review of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 by the UK's statutory nature conservation organisations. The review is carried out every five years and is known as the Quinquennial Review (QQR). It is carried out by a working group of the various agencies – Natural England, Countryside Council for Wales and Scottish Natural Heritage – led by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). This review is the 6th QQR.

The review decides whether any additions or amendments are justifiable to Schedules 5 and 8 of the WCA. Species may be added to the schedules if new evidence has come to light on their decline, and if protection is thought useful in conserving the species in question. Conversely, species can be removed if protection is no longer necessary.

Fines cut for bin mistakes

Your Expert Witness wheelie bin Hefty fines of more than £100 mistakes such as leaving a bin-lid open have been cut under changes to the law brought in by Defra. New rules that came into effect on 30 May reduce the maximum fines under the fixed penalty notice system that councils can give out to householders for overfilling their bin or accidentally putting their rubbish out an hour too early.

The fines have been reduced from a maximum of £110 to £40 for early payment.

Announcing the changes, Environment Secretary, Caroline Spelman, said: "The threat of a £110 fine for a simple mistake such as putting your bin out an hour early suggests the punishment doesn't fit the crime. Today is the first step towards a return to common sense. People should be encouraged to do their bit by putting out their rubbish in the right way, but hefty fines are not the way to do it."

Clyde wind farm notches up a century

Your Expert Witness Clyde wind farm In April one of Europe’s largest single consented wind energy projects achieved a major milestone. Clyde wind farm saw its 100th turbine began exporting to the national electricity grid.

Situated between Biggar and Moffat in South Lanarkshire, Clyde will eventually have 152 turbines producing enough electricity to power around 279,000 homes, making a significant contribution to Scotland’s target to provide 50% of Scotland’s electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020 to help combat climate change. Construction of the project is expected to be completed this summer.

ICF National Conference 2012 16-17 May

ICF Future Forestry - Meeting the needs of society in the 21st century.
CBI Conference Centre, Centre Point, New Oxford Street, London

Did you predict the public’s reaction in February last year to the Government's proposed change in woodland ownership in England? Do you have a clear idea of the international and domestic forces that will shape forestry and forestry businesses over the next decade? Do you know all about carbon trading and how forestry fits in?