Minutes:
Councillor Strong read a submission on behalf of a resident, concerning the Nedern, Item 8. The resident noted that the Nedern was problem-free until the mid-1990s when the construction of the second Severn Bridge began. The river runs through a tunnel under the M4 Motorway, which is protected by a screen. This screen often gets blocked with debris, causing the river to flood. In the 1980s, the river was dredged to remove weeds and silt but now only weeds are removed, which leads to additional problems. The river runs alongside the old Pill House site, which now hosts a concrete recycling business. This business stores large amounts of aggregate near the river, posing a risk of spillage without a proper removal mechanism. Winter flooding from the Nedern could hinder access to the walk from Caldicot Castle to the Cornfield project. A new drainage channel was constructed to remove water from house building plans in the area. However, with high river levels, previously dry areas are now flooded. This issue could be resolved by fitting a non-return flap on the river end of the drainage channel. The proposal to build around 100 houses is welcomed, but it is important to consider that this will lead to more water draining into the river. To address these issues, the resident suggested redesigning or modifying the M4 tunnel screens to make them more efficient, to implement an early warning system for high river levels, and to establish a better river maintenance program.
A resident delivered a presentation outlining concerns about the protection of bats, relating to Item 9. They raised concerns about the removal of key protections for bats by Monmouthshire County Council, questioning the rationale behind it. They highlighted the importance of stringent safeguards for developments in the bats' core sustenance zones, as recommended by environmental consultants. They emphasised the need for specific bat surveys and mitigation measures to protect bat populations and criticised the council's replacement of specific survey requirements with vague wording in policy NR1. They provided information on the greater horseshoe bat, its habitat requirements, and its endangered status and discussed the impact of proposed developments on bat habitats, particularly the Lease Brook site near Newton Court. They suggested that the council remove the dilution of protections for bats and adding specific wording to ensure no adverse effects on bats from developments. They highlighted the importance of protecting the bats' core sustenance zones and ensuring proper survey and mitigation measures are in place.
Andy Karran, Evidence Manager at Gwent Wildlife Trust, provided comments relating to Item 9, specifically on the HA4 site in Monmouth. They expressed concerns about the impact on the triple SI, SAC, and the greater horseshoe bat population. Andy noted that the 1-kilometre juvenile sustenance zone is not commonly used in Wales and referenced its use in North Somerset and Mendip SAC guidance. They emphasised the need for more survey work to determine the impact on the bats, suggesting that surveys should be conducted by qualified individuals at the appropriate times with sufficient effort.