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Bugs blow
16:29:11 25/02/2008
Rare spider hit by mail plans
A wildlife conservation charity has lost its fight to prevent a massive mail distribution centre being built on a grassland that abounds with rare invertebrates such as the distinguished jumping spider.
Buglife said its application to quash planning permission for the Royal Mail depot on Thurrock Marshes had been turned down even though the developer had admitted it would have a significant impact on wildlife in the area.
The Royal Mail centre will cover an area equivalent to 15 football pitches and will destroy about 70 per cent of the grassland of Thurrock Marshes. The judge dismissed the case because the land adjoining the development area is also protected and so deemed the ecological harm as temporary. Buglife, however, said the economic benefits were being considered more important than the ecological impacts.
The site at West Thurrock Marshes is located on the banks of the River Thames and is said to be one of the richest wildlife sites in the UK, with more than 1,300 species of invertebrates, birds and plants.
Wildlife campaigners say the case sets a worrying precedent, because it means that development corporations do not have to follow national planning guidance in protecting biodiversity if this conflicts with their regeneration role of bringing land into commercial use.
Liam Kearney
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