CONCERNS have been raised that wildlife and the natural world could be put at risk by the chancellor’s plans to downgrade environmental protections.

New Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng has set out plans to boost the nation’s economic growth in a mini budget statement.

As well as tax cuts, the statement created Investment Zones throughout the country, Cumbria being one of them.

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The move to drive development in selected areas includes the cutting of red tape meaning that in some cases, planning applications would not be necessary and “lengthy consultation with statutory bodies” would be reduced.

Allerdale and Copeland Green Party has called the move a “three pronged assault on nature.”

They said that the Government has also published plans for a ‘sunset clause’ on environmental protections introduced when the UK was part of the EU.

Chair of Allerdale and Copeland Greens, Keith Fitton said: “Our local Conservative councillors represent many voters who will be up in arms about the government proposals. They should not feel duty-bound to back the government. These plans are almost the direct opposite of 2019 Conservative manifesto promises and have never been put to the British people.

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“We need all our local politicians, whichever party they come from, to stand up for nature, and to make plain that we can have robust local economies whilst also helping nature to recover. Local Tories have a special responsibility to say NO to their new leaders, on behalf of our community.”

The Greens have sent an open letter to Conservative councillors in each of Cumbria’s local authority’s calling for their support in opposing the plans.

Deputy leader of Cumberland Council’s Conservative Group David Moore said: “What we’re hoping with enterprise zones is that there could be shorter processes for Development Consent Orders.

“We’re thinking that maybe Moorside and our Green Energy Park could tick the box of an enterprise zone.”

Cllr Moore said that while changes mean accelerated development in select areas: “that’s not at the cost of any work that needs to be done, they’re just trying to cut the red tape. The creation of enterprise zones has got to be good, we’ve been crying out for this in Cumberland for a long time now.”

A spokesperson for the RSPB has called the reduction in planning laws an “attack on nature,” adding their dissenting voice to that of the National Trust and Shropshire Wildlife Trust.

The chancellor has personally argued that the aim was to eliminate bureaucracy and unnecessary paperwork without damaging the natural world.

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