CAMPAIGNERS who opposed SnOasis developers in their bid to receive permission to build the winter sports complex today told of their bitter disappointment.
CAMPAIGNERS who opposed SnOasis developers in their bid to receive permission to build the winter sports complex today told of their bitter disappointment.
Officials from Suffolk Wildlife Trust (SWT) reissued their fears that the £350million leisure village - which got the government go ahead earlier this month - will be to the detriment of the area's ecology.
The resort, which will be built in Great Blakenham, was last year subject to a public inquiry which looked at the transport and environmental implications of the site as well as any economic benefits.
Dr Simone Bullion, who gave evidence at the inquiry, has been leading SWT's fight against the development.
She said: “We are disappointed by the decision.
“Despite the overwhelming weight of evidence that this would have a negative impact upon the rich biodiversity of the quarry, the secretary of state has still ruled in favour of this scheme.”
However, Godfrey Spanner, managing director of SnOasis developer Onslow Suffolk Ltd, assured that all precautions would be taken to protect the environmental value of the site.
He said: “After a public enquiry lasting six months, the inspector came down in favour of SnOasis and after much further investigation the secretary of state upheld the decision.
“Rest assured we will do all in our power to accommodate the site's wildlife in its many and various requirements.”
The site is home to more than 100 species of birds, animals, and small mammals, and is the habitat of nationally protected Great Crested Newts and bats.
Mr Spanner and his team are due to start work to relocate the endangered newts which have been found on the site but Dr Bullion claimed there would inevitably be an adverse impact on the population.
She said: “We are also concerned about the fate of the badgers, the breeding and over-wintering bird populations, grass snakes and a colony of rare solitary wasps.
“We have to face the fact that a wealth of wildlife habitats will be destroyed.”
Do you share the trust's concerns? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
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