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

eed bunting, grey partridge, starling, song thrush, house sparrow, tree
sparrow, golden plover and lapwing.
8.47 The impact significance assessment for all other species is considered to
be neutral for habitat loss due to the impact magnitude being neutral, the
conservation value of each species being low/negligible, or both of the
above.
OPERATIONAL PHASE
Disturbance
8.48 Disturbance during operation (e.g. as a result of human activity and noise
associated with maintenance visits), is expected to be considerably less
than would occur during construction. Therefore the impact magnitude for
disturbance is neutral-minor negative for all species, resulting in an
impact significance of neutral-slight adverse for all other species.
Displacement
8.49 The presence and operation of the turbines may cause visual, noise and
vibration-related effects that could deter target species from using the site
for foraging, hunting and breeding. The site is utilised by raptors and
waders and these species groups are thought to be particularly sensitive
to the effects of disturbance and barrier to movement. Low numbers of
lapwing and golden plover were recorded foraging on arable land within
the Ornithological Survey Area, however alternative habitat is readily
available within the locality and region. Therefore it is anticipated that the
magnitude of the potential impact on golden plover and lapwing will be
minor negative. The impact significance scores for lapwing and golden
plover are therefore slight adverse.
8.50 Alternative habitat for breeding and wintering raptors is readily available in
the wider locality/region and therefore the effect of displacement is
considered to be highly localised in this instance. The impact magnitude
for displacement will therefore be minor negative for sparrowhawk,
kestrel and buzzard. The impact significance values for sparrowhawk,
kestrel and buzzard are therefore slight adverse.
Collision Risk
8.51 Wind turbines can create a risk of birds colliding with moving turbine
blades. The degree of risk depends on the biometrics of the species (e.g.
size, flight speed etc.), flight behaviour, age/maturity of target birds,
population size, habitat quality, weather conditions, wind turbine
dimensions, layout and spacing.
8.52 Predicted collision mortalities for target species recorded within the
Ornithological Survey Area are detailed in Table 11 of the ornithology
report (Appendix 4) and these results indicate that the following mortality
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Penny Hill Wind Farm
Environmental Statement