High Speed 2 Railway Line: Buckinghamshire

(asked on 22nd February 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taken to ensure the protection of (a) birds during the breeding season and (b) other wildlife at the protected nature reserve at Calvert Jubilee Buckinghamshire during ground clearance activities by HS2 Ltd.


Answered by
Nusrat Ghani Portrait
Nusrat Ghani
Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
This question was answered on 27th February 2019

HS2 Ltd and their contractors will comply with all relevant legislation, HS2 Environmental Minimum Requirements, as well as any applicable Protected Species Licences when dealing with ecology within HS2 limits. The following protection measures are in place for vegetation clearance activities:

A. For all birds during nesting season - A “Permit to Clear” System will apply. A suitably qualified ecologist will assess existing survey data and then verify this with surveys of the site in advance of the vegetation clearance taking place. Once the area has been confirmed to be free of nesting birds then clearance can commence.

B. Other wildlife at the Calvert Jubilee Local Nature Reserve – The “Permit to Clear” System is applicable; however, should the area be known to contain Protected Species, such as Great Crested Newt and Badgers, then the HS2 Ltd contractors will work in accordance with the HS2 Ltd organisational licences for these species. Where surveys identify other Protected Species present then contractors would undertake works in accordance with their legal protection and, where necessary, apply for mitigation licences from Natural England. Mitigation measures will be carried out under the supervision of suitably qualified ecologists where necessary.

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