Great crested newts delay Carlisle bypass start
Last updated 13:07, Wednesday, 06 August 2008
Traps have been laid to catch great crested newts living on the western by-pass route.
Ecologists will empty them everyday and work will not start on the Carlisle Northern Development Route until the area is clear.
The firm hired to lay the traps, Herpetosure, has also been putting up fencing alongside the route to stop any newts living outside the work path getting in.
Herpetosure general manager Duncan Lloyd says the captured newts will be taken to a safe area and freed by the ecologists.
Great crested newts are nocturnal and Britain’s largest type of newt.
They are a protected species because their population has declined over recent years as a result of the destruction of their habitat.
They have grey/brown backs covered in dark spots and grow up to 17cm.
They can live for 27 years. Once the newts have been removed from the CNDR workmen can move in.
The five-mile route will cost £9m to build on top of the £10.6m preparation expenses already spent.
The Private Finance Initiative scheme should be about two years in construction and is expected to open in 2010.
The by-pass will link the A595 at Newby West with Kingsmoor Park and M6 junction at Kingstown.
It will allow drivers coming from the west to reach the M6, A74 and A69 without passing through the city centre.
It has been estimated that once complete, the CNDR will reduce volumes of traffic on Castle Way by up to 25 per cent.
Balfour Beatty has the contract to do the work.
SJohnson@cngroup.co.uk
I believe that the Carlisle western bypass is a great idea it should hopefully relieve the Hellish congestion within Carlisle. The western by-pass would mean that HGV's from Stranraer and the north bringing in goods to the west coast area can pass around Carlisle instead of going through it. Although the governments white paper states that it is important to make use of existing infrastructure I believe that the benefits of this project massively outweigh the consequences as I can get to Asda much much quicker. With the relief of congestion in the city centre letâs hope that the 'members of the new Carlisle Renaissance Board' donât decide to waste any more of the taxpayerâs money on daft ideas such as 'park and ride' and biscuit filled meetings.
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As Gareth says, this is perfectly normal practice. Did you report the (lack of) dealy due to the adders found during the widening of the A74?
Yet again (see reporting about the ecological issues at the airport) the News and Star demonstrates its lack of understanding about ecology and the law/ government policy.
Posted by chris hughes on 13 August 2008 kl. 11:05