Local Green campaigner Rachel Rodwell has hit out at Conservative run Maidstone Borough Council’s support for the proposed extension of the Hermitage Quarry. The Greens have criticised Conservatives comments that ancient woodland can be reinstated stating that they demonstrate a complete lack of understanding about the nature of ancient woodland.
Green Party campaigner, Rachel Rodwell said, “I am horrified at Conservative run Maidstone Borough Council’s support for the proposed extension of the Hermitage Quarry.
“To coin the phrase ‘could’ cause harm to the biodiversity within an ancient woodland, demonstrates a willful ignorance of the devastating impact that this expansion would have upon the local wildlife.
“There is no satisfactory ‘mitigation’ that could ‘restore’ the lost habitat and the lack of reference to the ancient woodland soil which would be disturbed and degraded makes me question whether this council has grasped the most rudimentary aspects of ecology.”
“The ancient woodland soil in Oaken Wood has taken hundreds of years to form and the lack of disturbance over this time has led to a hugely complex and diverse ecosystem. Ancient woodland soil, by is very nature, irreplaceable.”
Notes:
-Agenda item 13 https://meetings.maidstone.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?MId=5252&x=1
-Proposed letter: https://meetings.maidstone.gov.uk/documents/s89779/Enc.%201%20for%20Kent%20Minerals%20and%20Waste%20Plan%20Review%20-%20MBC%20Response.pdf