Ilkeston Railway Station construction delayed?

[snowdon63]

I heard that the build of Ilkeston Railway station has been put on hold because of newts found on the site where the build is due to commence . The build should have started at the beginning of June . Could anyone shed any light on this ?

 

[Western Lord]

I heard that the build of Ilkeston Railway station has been put on hold because of newts found on the site where the build is due to commence . The build should have started at the beginning of June . Could anyone shed any light on this ?

Wouldn't it be good to hear something like "construction of new runway at Heathrow put on hold because human beings found living on the site".

 

[ExRes]

How come that these amazingly rare newts, not to mention the usual equally rare bat colonies, are found at virtually every single major building site in the UK ?

Just how many do you need of something to avoid being classified as rare ?

 

[gordonthemoron]

I wonder if the newts came from the nearby public house

 

[Mark62]

Recently a major road rebuilding project was halted at the Little Eaton junction on the A38. This was due to finding a rare species. The resulting delays created colossal traffic delays as this junction is the major entrance to and from the city. But work had to stop. The contractors had no choice. It will be the same with Ilkeston

 

[Bald Rick]

How come that these amazingly rare newts, not to mention the usual equally rare bat colonies, are found at virtually every single major building site in the UK ?

Just how many do you need of something to avoid being classified as rare ?

They are rare in Europe as a whole. But rather common here, particularly at places earmarked for construction.

The fine for harming them is apparently £5k each, and I do wonder whether a callous company might not one day just take the fine.

 

[Mark62]

Its a good job its not the TOCs building the station(or any others) They would just bulldoze the site irrespectively and then expect the government to pay their fines.

 

[edwin_m]

More news on the newts, also a visualisation of what the station will look like.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-28488008

Newts have set back the start of building work on a new railway station in Derbyshire by four months.

Work was due to start on Ilkeston station in June but the discovery of the great-crested newts means work cannot start until October.

The £6.5m station will now open in spring 2015, rather than December, as was originally planned, the county council said.

Councillor Andy Botham said he was "disappointed".

The county council said extra flooding prevention work also had to be carried out.

 

[M7R]

I asked my Brother in law to be about this as he is an ecologist and does newt surveys, and bat surveys among other things, and he said it quite common for people to either not both with surveys before getting planning permissions, or paying for a very cheap survey and then wondering why things turn up mid way through construction....

 

[DarloRich]

I asked my Brother in law to be about this as he is an ecologist and does newt surveys, and bat surveys among other things, and he said it quite common for people to either not both with surveys before getting planning permissions, or paying for a very cheap survey and then wondering why things turn up mid way through construction....

This is sadly quite close to the truth. Cutting corners on the project background work then complaining when it comes back to bite you! It simply means that measures you could have designed in on day one take more time and money to design in on day 100

 

[cogload]

They [the newts] have as much right to live on this planet as any other species. There are rules to protect them following them properly might also help.

 

[Hebden Bridger]

They are rare in Europe as a whole. But rather common here, particularly at places earmarked for construction.

The fine for harming them is apparently £5k each, and I do wonder whether a callous company might not one day just take the fine.

Or six months in prison.
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This is sadly quite close to the truth. Cutting corners on the project background work then complaining when it comes back to bite you! It simply means that measures you could have designed in on day one take more time and money to design in on day 100

I'm currently having a new house built - the architect recommended getting bat and wildlife surveys done before applying for planning permission which cost about £200. Yes a few mitigation steps were specified as planning conditions, but the cost of them when planned before starting building was a few hundred quid more.

Newts only live near ponds don't they? I'm rather gobsmacked that a £6.5m station can be planned without them being spotted at the design phase.

 

[MidlandMainlie]

More news on the newts, also a visualisation of what the station will look like.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-28488008

I would have thought the car park will be bigger, given the lack of parking at Langley Mill

Newts only live near ponds don't they? I'm rather gobsmacked that a £6.5m station can be planned without them being spotted at the design phase.

Well as they were found when building Millership Way (the new road on the left of that picture) only a few years ago you would have expected them to look more closely :roll:

 

[Hebden Bridger]

Well as they were found when building Millership Way (the new road on the left of that picture) only a few years ago you would have expected them to look more closely :roll:

LOL. Well that peaked my interest so I checked the planning permission, submitted in November 2013 and granted in January 2014.

The ecological survey submitted with the planning permission identified that there was a large (and monitored) population of newts relocated from the road to ponds close to the site and that there was a 50% risk of an offence occurring. Despite this the surveyors had only visited the site once, in February 2013. Nothing during the summer of 2013. The council therefore put a pretty severe condition on the planning permission for more detailed ecological work.

They also put a stonking great condition about agreeing detailed plans for drainage because there was a high risk of flooding.

"The 7 Ps" comes to mind. Blaming the newts seems p*** poor to me. If they had monitored the site properly last year, they could have moved the newts before now. But in any case, they would still need to design the drainage properly before starting work.

 

[AM9]

Cutting corners on eco surveys is foolhardy anyway. If somebody who cares about the natural environment doesn't subsequently find anything, the NIMBYs will sure search very hard for it, often as a last resort.
That's because its the wildlife that they really care for, not their spoilt views or their house prices!

 

[High Dyke]

Newts only live near ponds don't they? ...

You've never been to Ilson... :roll:

A shame the project has been delayed... Once built i may be able to use the train to travel for the odd footy match - the ground is close to the railway.

 

[Mitch in Notts]

Thought progress was slow. When I went past on Friday I noticed a truck and digger in the station yard so there has been some activity but obviously it is going to be limited.
If we have a very wet winter the station site will be under water anyway so a Spring opening date could easily be delayed...........

 

[edwin_m]

LOL. Well that peaked my interest so I checked the planning permission, submitted in November 2013 and granted in January 2014.

The ecological survey submitted with the planning permission identified that there was a large (and monitored) population of newts relocated from the road to ponds close to the site and that there was a 50% risk of an offence occurring. Despite this the surveyors had only visited the site once, in February 2013. Nothing during the summer of 2013. The council therefore put a pretty severe condition on the planning permission for more detailed ecological work.

They also put a stonking great condition about agreeing detailed plans for drainage because there was a high risk of flooding.

"The 7 Ps" comes to mind. Blaming the newts seems p*** poor to me. If they had monitored the site properly last year, they could have moved the newts before now. But in any case, they would still need to design the drainage properly before starting work.

I agree it's not fair for the newts to take the blame, especially as they can't answer back. And a shame they didn't put the newts somewhere else when they built the road. And the applicant was... Derbyshire County Council...

(if anyone's interested it is case 1113/0013 on http://www.erewash.gov.uk/planning-...ons/search-current-planning-applications.html)

 

[DarloRich]

Newts only live near ponds don't they? I'm rather gobsmacked that a £6.5m station can be planned without them being spotted at the design phase.

Assuming that you looked for them!

They can live in anything that can hold water. I have seen reports of them in pipes, swimming pools (disused) tanks, sumps, drains etc

 

[edwin_m]

Assuming that you looked for them!

They can live in anything that can hold water. I have seen reports of them in pipes, swimming pools (disused) tanks, sumps, drains etc

The River Erewash passes through the station site.

 

[MidlandMainlie]

LOL. Well that peaked my interest so I checked the planning permission, submitted in November 2013 and granted in January 2014.

The ecological survey submitted with the planning permission identified that there was a large (and monitored) population of newts relocated from the road to ponds close to the site and that there was a 50% risk of an offence occurring. Despite this the surveyors had only visited the site once, in February 2013. Nothing during the summer of 2013. The council therefore put a pretty severe condition on the planning permission for more detailed ecological work.

They also put a stonking great condition about agreeing detailed plans for drainage because there was a high risk of flooding.

"The 7 Ps" comes to mind. Blaming the newts seems p*** poor to me. If they had monitored the site properly last year, they could have moved the newts before now. But in any case, they would still need to design the drainage properly before starting work.

Surveyors are unlikely to find any Newts in Febuary they more likely to be hibernating.
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You've never been to Ilson... :roll:

A shame the project has been delayed... Once built i may be able to use the train to travel for the odd footy match - the ground is close to the railway.

Indeed

Last I heard that football club had gone bankrupt, same as Eastwood Town FC

 

[Hebden Bridger]

Surveyors are unlikely to find any Newts in Febuary they more likely to be hibernating.(

Well yes that was my point, not much use an ecological surveyor spending one day on the site in February!
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If we have a very wet winter the station site will be under water anyway so a Spring opening date could easily be delayed...........

Which reinforces the point about inadequate drainage design submitted with the planning application. Its easy for Derbyshire Council to put out a story about newts (which they've moved to the site anyway) and for them then to gloss over the basic design problems in one sentence.

 

[Mitch in Notts]

Having been past last two days there is now activity. The railway lines are fenced off. There is activity on the derbyshire side. On the Nottinghamshire side notable clearance of bushes is taking place and access for the car park site is presumably in hand - well there are vehicles on that side doing work....

 

[edwin_m]

As the county boundary runs through the site it is probably the subject of two separate planning applications, so we may see work going ahead on the car park side while the issues of the station itself are resolved. Clearance of vegetation is subject to restrictions during bird nesting season so if they left this until the newts were sorted they might find they couldn't do it for even longer.

 

[Mitch in Notts]

Station Site looking south this morning. Also the car park site.

 

[edwin_m]

Further delays and a bust budget due to flood alleviation. Sounds like someone hasn't done their homework - couldn't they just open the station before the car park?

THE construction of a new railway station has been delayed until next spring over flooding concerns.

The Environment Agency has asked that works take place during the construction of the site to ensure that the car park does not flood during bad weather.

The estimated cost of these additional repairs is £3m.

Now, the project team is being forced to look at the specifications of the station to see where savings could be made.

Read more at http://www.nottinghampost.com/Flood...3211139-detail/story.html#UoMVxsDPgTCVfw0S.99

 

[BlythPower]

Last I heard that football club had gone bankrupt, same as Eastwood Town FC

Ilkeston Town FC went belly up. The new Ilkeston FC have taken their place. Can't see a phoenix Eastwood rising from their ashes anytime soon, though.

 

[SemaphoreSam]

Perhaps the surveyor's name was Gussie Fink-Nottle? Sam

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Last I heard that football club had gone bankrupt, same as Eastwood Town FC

Scurrilous rumours such as this are normally only ever found on the Football thread, so I take it upon myself to correct this rumour.

On Monday of this current week in an Evo-Stik Northern League, Premier Division, match, Ilkeston FC drew 2-2 at home against Halesowen Town FC and currently occupy the eight league position.
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As the county boundary runs through the site it is probably the subject of two separate planning applications, so we may see work going ahead on the car park side while the issues of the station itself are resolved. Clearance of vegetation is subject to restrictions during bird nesting season so if they left this until the newts were sorted they might find they couldn't do it for even longer.

The matter of vegetation clearance during the bird nesting season being not allowed, was one that was planned for in the Balfour Beatty work scheduling of the preliminary groundworks on the former rail route of the part of the former Tyldesley Loop Line, that will form part of the Leigh Guided Busway.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Ilkeston Town FC went belly up. The new Ilkeston FC have taken their place. Can't see a phoenix Eastwood rising from their ashes anytime soon, though.

To be fair, Ilkeston FC have been in existence under that name since 2010, so it is not exactly a new matter...:roll:
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Further delays and a bust budget due to flood alleviation. Sounds like someone hasn't done their homework - couldn't they just open the station before the car park?

A viewing of both postings # 17 and # 20 on this thread might shed some light on the matter.

 

[edwin_m]

A viewing of both postings # 17 and # 20 on this thread might shed some light on the matter.

I'm aware of these postings especially #20 which was one of mine!

If it's the construction of the car park that increases the flooding risk, as implied by the Evening Post article, then perhaps deferring the car park would allow the station to be built. Although the budget issue suggests they will have to cut something else to pay for the flood alleviation so maybe that's a reason not to build anything until the budget has been reallocated.