The Association have expressed their concern and have been in ongoing discussions with The Jockey Club about the proximity of the new housing to the Seven Springs and made suggestions about maintaining the wet woodland area of the site as a ‘nature reserve’ with controlled access.
The Association together with the Suffolk Wildlife Trust and National Trust Wicken Fen has made representations to The Planning Inspectorate who are conducting the Examination of the West Suffolk Local Plan and a proposed modification has been made to the landscape and biodiversity section.
“This information must include an assessment of water quality impacts within the New River on downstream hydrologically connected European sites, the avoidance of increased sedimentation and eutrophication, and water quality surveys to inform future monitoring of mitigation installations.”
This change will ensure that the water quality of the Springs is assessed before any possible future works take place, so that we have a benchmark to assess any future impacts.
The National Trust are involved because The New River flows into the National Trust’s Wicken Fen Ramsar. Wicken Fen’s historic habitats are reliant on the cleaner calcareous nature of the Monks Lode water, from The New River that is abstracted onto Sedge Fen.
The Plan is being examined over 11 days between Tuesday 5th November and Wednesday 11 December at the Council Offices at Bury St Edmunds.
More information about the plan is available at: