Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
these waterbodies, the effects of an unmitigated moderate scale pollution incident is predicted
to have an adverse effect of moderate significance.
Other Semi-Natural Habitats
11.4.22 With regard to other habitats located within the application area these are limited to the
occasional scattered scrub and small trees, the loss of which is considered to have an impact
of negligible significance.
Species
Bats
11.4.23 No roosts will be lost and the overall habitat loss will be minimal as a result of the proposed
wind energy development construction (as detailed above). The construction phase is
therefore considered to have an impact of negligible significance on bats.
Otter
11.4.24 No otter resting sites were detected within the application area or within at least 100m of the
application area. Consequently there is not predicted to be any loss or disturbance of otter
resting sites as a result of the construction of the proposed wind energy development and its
associated infrastructure.
11.4.25 However, field surveys confirmed that otters do occupy the habitats immediately surrounding
the application area with evidence indicating that they patrol the River Black Devon as well as
utilising the habitats of the Forth Estuary and Black Devon Wetlands. Consequently there is a
potential for otters to be disturbed by activities associated with the construction of the proposed
wind energy development. However, otters are typically crepuscular (most active during dusk
and dawn) therefore it is considered extremely unlikely that any animals will be active within or
immediately adjacent to the site during construction working hours 33 . As such any impacts of
disturbance are expected to be of negligible significance.
11.4.26 Despite the prediction that it is extremely unlikely that otters will be active during construction
working hours there is a very low potential risk of otters being run over and killed or injured by
construction vehicles on site. Field surveys identified that otters were likely to use a mammal
path which connects the Forth Estuary to the lagoons of Black Devon Wetlands across the site
access track. However, while the fatality of an otter could have an effect on the local
population the likelihood of such an event is considered to be so low that the impact is
predicted to be of negligible significance.
11.4.27 Although no evidence was detected to suggest that otters pass within the wider areas of the
application area (with the exception of the access track crossing) it is possible that they could
in order to commute directly between parts of the Black Devon, the Forth Estuary and the
lagoons. Consequently there is a low potential risk of otters being incidentally killed or injured
as a result of becoming trapped in open trenches, pits or pipes. However, as with potential
November 2010 Chapter 11 Page 30
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