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BOC Immingham Dissolved Acetylene Project Environmental Statement
Notable Species
10.57 A summary of relevant legislation relating to habitats and species is provided in Appendix 10B.
Records received from the various suppliers of biological data are presented in Appendix 10C.
Water Voles
10.58 Six records of water vole were returned from the data search, all between 2002 and 2007, these
included records in the field to the south of the development area.
10.59 There are records of water vole along Middle Drain from 2002, these records are within 500 m of
the development area but no records were returned for the stretch of Middle Drain that is adjacent
to the development area.
10.60 The water vole survey conducted on 1 st March 2011 confirmed water vole presence on Middle
Drain with two latrines, a low level of feeding signs and a suitable burrow being identified (see
Target Notes in Table 10.4 within the survey area indicating a relatively small population. No signs
of water vole were found elsewhere within the survey area.
10.61 Water vole is a UK BAP and a Lincolnshire BAP species. The current national trend for water
voles is fluctuating, but with a probable increasing trend overall. The estimated Lincolnshire water
vole population appears to be stable, with a widespread distribution.
10.62 Once common and widespread, the water vole has suffered a long term decline since 1900.
Formerly the most rapidly declining of all the priority vertebrate species in the UK BAP, its national
status now appears more stable and the species is slowly expanding its range overall. This is due
to localised range expansions enabled by concerted habitat creation, enhancement and
management, in combination with sustained catchment-scale mink control.
10.63 The Lincolnshire population is significant to the persistence of the water vole nationally, because
in Lincolnshire they are widespread and the population is one of the most successful in the UK.
Recent work on distribution and densities in England has identified two Regional Key Areas in
Lincolnshire; one in the Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes (within which the development area
lies) and the other in the Welland and Deeping area. Extensive colonies are often found adjacent
to and within urban and residential areas where human disturbance probably affects predators
more than it affects the water vole.
Great Crested Newts and Other Amphibians
10.64 No records for great crested newts occur within 2 km of the development area; three records of
common toad were received, the nearest of which was approximately 200 m to the south (from
2006) recorded as being on the field to the west of the Power Station. Two records of common
frog were also received the nearest of which was 1.1 km south, from 2008.
10.65 An ecological assessment undertaken for the proposed Abengoa Bio-ethanol Plant (to the south
east of South Marsh Road) concluded, from ecological surveys undertaken in May 2005 and
November 2006 that the presence of great crested newts was unlikely. This conclusion was based
on the presence of fish within the main drains (Oldfleet Drain and local drains along South Marsh
Road) which can predate amphibian larvae and young, and the ephemeral nature of the
watercourses combined with the general fluctuation of water levels. The land within the proposed
Bio-ethanol Plant development area was also considered to have little suitable terrestrial habitat
for this species. However, this assessment was undertaken based on general surveys 3-4 years
ago and no detailed amphibian surveys have been carried out within either proposed development
area.
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