Threat to Fylde's Great Crested Newt Population

Following on from the assessment for Cuadrilla by EcoTech which can be viewed at the Lancashire County Council Planning Register here: Ecological Assessment Pertaining to an Application for Planning Consent regarding a proposal to drill an Exploratory Coal Bed Methane Well at land off Anna’s Road, Westby, Blackpool, Lancashire.

Quotes from the assessment above pertaining to the Great Crested Newt and other species known to inhabit Fylde but not observed by the contracted environmental impact assessor:

Ponds (potential breeding habitat for great crested newt) within some 250m of the application area boundary were identified from maps and aerial photographs."

2.4 Species Bird species Seven species of bird (swallow, feral pigeon, wood pigeon, goldfinch, whitethroat, dunnock and robin) were recorded on or over the area. None are considered likely to breed within the application area.

Water vole The ditch present is considered suitable habitat. However, no evidence for water vole was found.

Other notable species Great crested newt is known to occur in pools within an existing landfill site some 220m from the application area at the nearest point. Another pool, which is some 220m to the south of the application area at the nearest point comprises potential great crested newt breeding habitat."

2.5 Ecological features of adjacent land According to information provided by LCC, the application area is approximately 200m west of Westby Clay Pit Biological Alert Site (BAS). The principal interest of this BAS is noted as being:

“the regular presence of a good population of great crested newts with most of the ponds being suitable for breeding.” (LCC, pers. comm.).

Further reading
With the above in mind (please read the full environmental report linked to above which claims "it is considered unlikely that that the application area comprises a place of rest and shelter for great crested newt. Hence, no impact on this species is predicted from the proposals"), note the large area of terrestrial habitat required by Great Crested Newts:

Great crested newts require surprisingly extensive areas of terrestrial habitat as well as standing water in order to survive; for example it has been estimated that a viable population of around two hundred and fifty newts requires a suitable breeding pond and about one hectare of good terrestrial habitat. Moreover, adult newts can travel some distance away from their breeding pond in search of suitable habitat and immature adults may disperse up to five hundred metres away.
(source: Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus) - species action plan)

DEFRA - Local Sites Guidance on their Identification, Selection and Management