environmental statement - Rotherham's Online Application for ...

considered to be minor negative - therefore the significance of impact is
considered to be slight adverse. Invertebrate numbers may be affected if
habitats are removed in place of stone or gravel tracks. However, the total
area of land which will be removed in this way is minimal compared to the
total study area and the arable habitat which will be affected is not
particularly associated with invertebrates. The magnitude of impact is
therefore considered to be minor negative, resulting in an impact
significance of slight adverse.
7.53 Light pollution is likely to occur during construction. Some high wattage
security lights or working lights may be erected and may affect existing bat
flightlines and may even prevent roosting in some areas or discourage
emergence (no roosts were found but potential exists). Light can however
benefit certain species such as pipistrelle as insect prey will often gather
around artificial light, whereas Myotis species tend to be light shy and are
discouraged by light. This will be a direct impact of minor negative
magnitude therefore equating to a slight adverse ecological impact.
There is little information known about how noise and vibrations affect
bats, however it is possible that that noise and vibrations from site
machinery may interfere with bats echolocation calls. As the majority of
the work will be carried out during the day the effect of this is likely to be
minimal – giving an impact score of slight adverse. However, if works are
required at night in special circumstances the magnitude of impact will
increase to intermediate negative having a moderate adverse impact.
Badgers
7.54 Based on the proposed turbine layout and the access tracks, none of the
known setts will be lost or disturbed by the proposed wind farm. Habitat
loss will lead to a small decrease in food availability where arable land and
other habitats are removed in place of stone or gravel tracks. However,
the total area of construction land on the site is generally minimal
compared to the study area. As such, this impact is predicted to be minor
negative and therefore a significance of slight adverse. Disturbance to
foraging areas and commuting routes may occur through an increase in
human activity, which may affect badger movement. This is considered to
have a minor negative impact and therefore a significance of slight
adverse. High wattage security lights or working lights may be erected if
night working is undertaken and are likely to affect badger commuting
routes and may even prevent emergence from nearby setts. This will be a
direct impact of minor negative to intermediate negative magnitude
therefore equating to a slight adverse significance. If it is necessary for
site traffic to operate at night, this may lead to an increased risk of road
related mortality for badgers. This is considered to have a direct impact of
minor negative to intermediate negative magnitude therefore equating
to a slight adverse significance.
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Penny Hill Wind Farm
Environmental Statement