East Halton

Hi Jon, yes it looks like total destruction of the area. Mitigation’s areas not adequate or provide enough habitat diversity.
Regarding your question I think each coloured area signifies a project phase and a timescale, although I might have misinterpreted the map legend. Also the pond to the side of Winters is included hopefully as part of the mitigation area. This area and the surround was owned by LinseyOil Refinery, now Total, since the 1960’s, but sold around 15 years ago. This is an extremely important site for other reasons.
Few birders do this patch regularly, which is a shame because it holds some brilliant birds, especially in winter. It’s a natural habitat, you need to learn it to get the best from it.
For anybody interested I add the URL of the original planning app from 2009. It contains various reports etc incl Environment and LWT.


apps.northlincs.gov.uk/application/pa-2009-0600

I notice Able’s address as Jersey. I wonder why?

Hello Peter, many thanks for posting this information. From looking at the planning application, the area of land that will potentially end up beneath concrete is massive - total destruction of a wildlife rich environment that was Halton Marshes! The one thing that puzzles me is that given the scope of the planning application, why has Able UK taken the time and expense to create the mitigation area on land next to Winters Pond, as the mitigation area is located within the proposed area for development?

Hello, Jon, thanks for your reply. Yes, the main manufacturing site of the turbine project is further along the river, between the Total Refinery and the river, highlighted by the compulsory purchase of the Old Signal Station, Lighthouse etc. And land currently occupied by several car importers. BUT, there seems also to be connected development spanning from Chase Hill Rd around to the east and north of East Halton village all the way to the Skitter. The only area it misses is Winters Pond.
Have added a URL taken from the North Lincs Council Planning portal for 2017. Placed on the last page of the application is a map that will explain its implication.
maps.northlincs.gov.uk/api/download/PL/?...h3wqutR4h0swruUBg%3d

A couple of years ago I was talking to one of the Winter girls and she told me what was in the planning for the area, sadly it’s now seems imminent

While I was at Winters on the 29th, I got into conversation with two Able employees who were inspecting the mitigation site and they gave me a broad view of the land disappearing under concrete, staggering.

Im not an expert on this subject, and am willing to be corrected, but this is my understanding of it.

Hi Peter. Nice report. Winters Pond to Goxhill Haven is my regular patch. You mention that some of the land surrounding Winters Pond is designated for a wind turbine factory. I know that the mitigation area was created to offset this development, but thought the actual development was taking place further down river at Killingholme?

Winters Pond 29th, late morning.

Curlew
Mute Swan 2
Cormorant 3
Shoveller 6
Gadwall 14
Goldeneye 1 f
Black Tailed Godwit 3
Pied Wagtail
Little Grebe 9
Chaffinch 3
Robin
Mallard c20. + numerous on nearby wet fields
Tufted Duck - 30+
Coot - numerous
Moorhen- numerous
Greylag Geese seen descending onto adjacent pond

Buzzard perched at distance on mitigation area adjoining Winters land
Starling c1000, Lapwing c50 plus several flocks of smaller birds on nearby fields designated for wind turbine factory