Wildlife groups express alarm at plan to ‘streamline’ UK environmental rules | Green politics

Wildlife groups expressed their warning after the ministers promised a fundamental “” simple “approach to environmental organization in the United Kingdom aimed at increasing economic growth and accelerating new housing, as well as major projects such as airports.

While officials said the plans should enhance the preservation of nature in general, removing the so -called “bats by bats”, referring to 100 million pounds sterling a shelter for bats Built for a part of HS2, it can reduce individual protection.

The new system depends on a report Employed in the fall Written by Steve Reed, Minister of Environment. Under Dan Curie, Advisor No. 10 during the Gordon Brown era, he specifies 29 recommendations, nine of which were adopted immediately.

The most extreme is that the main projects should only deal with one “major organizer”, which will be responsible for ensuring environmental decisions quickly. This will not be a new body, but one of the current Kangus developers is already dealing with the example Environment AgencyNatural England and the Forest Committee.

Other recommendations that are adopted include simplification of environmental permits and guidance, which aim to help “reasonable and risk -based decisions”; One digital portal for such permissions; And the new “Infrastructure Council” in the Ministry of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), aims to help projects clearly.

Reid said the intention is to “enhance economic growth and unleash the construction era, with nature support also to recover.” However, some nature groups have expressed concern that the first will overwhelm the latter, as the ministers clearly pushing the protection that could complicate new housing or large projects.

“Reducing the red tape will not work with this government more than it was working for another because protecting wildlife and wild places is necessary to achieve real sustainable growth,” said Joan Edwards, head of politics at wildlife funds.

“We do not need more short-term economy in the short term-we need to build a house that supports health societies and is based on the recovery of nature.”

Becce Speight, CEO of RSBP, said the charity for birds will support changes that can help in natural recovery and will “a comprehensive review” of Korean proposals.

“However, you should give any priority changes to nature, ensuring that the protected areas are protected from harmful development that may cause irreversible damage. You are reassured alone not enough.”

Kate Stoner, CEO of Al -Khaffish save Al -Thiqa said: “The Foreign Minister talks about the logical approach to improving the organization. We urge him to work with us to follow an evidence based on evidence. Without this, it is possible that he will accelerate the severing of nature angles and the economic decline.”

The 64 -page review of Korean composed aims to end what one official called the current “fun tour” of the organizers, and to replace it with a simplified approach based on results, instead of that which “empties the risks and focuses on the process.”

Nature Protection, such as Becchstein Break It can delay construction She said that the Hinkeli Point C. Cyt in Sumrest was important.

“But in mitigating our effects, we should not strictly protect everything as it is, at any cost. Our approach should also constitute a large space for innovation, development and growth.”

Curie wrote that he expected the environmental groups “tense” on whether the new focus and parallel plans to give the organizers will be more discretionary power, it may mean that nature has suffered.

He added: “But everything I heard and learned during this review indicates that the current system does not work as nature and the environment can mention, not to mention growth.”

Officials acknowledge that this is very likely to mean a less strict policy for specific protection, especially about the distinctive major projects, with this “focus on proportion” means that something like the bats tunnel is unlikely to happen again.

However, there are no plans to amend or cancel the broader regulations of the habitats, which were entered under the laws of the European Union and blame them. By previous governments To create an unnecessary red tape.

“Nature and economy have decreased for a very long time. This is changing today. I rejuvenate weapons and its bodies along the length of the arms to enhance economic growth and launch the era of construction with the support of nature to recover,” said Reed.