'The Bill - as it stands - would mean, frankly, no habitats or species in the county are safe'

PEOPLE ARE URGED TO CONTACT MPs OVER PLANNING CHANGES

- By JOSEPH RICHARDS [e-mail]

BOSSES at Staffordshire Wildlife Trust have urged the government to change its proposed new planning bill to ensure habitats and species in the county are safe.

The nature conservation charity is urging the Government to ditch part of one section of the bill which they say presents the biggest threat to the natural world in decades.

Part three of the bill allows developers to avoid environmental laws at a site by paying into a national nature recovery fund to pay for environmental improvements elsewhere.

The Trust, together with 45 other Wildlife Trusts across the UK and national nature charity RSPB, says proposed legislation would significantly weaken important Habitat Regulations - rules which have helped to effectively protect wildlife and wild spaces for decades.