Potential Napton Threat!!

I was contacted earlier today by a fellow blogger Kevin Groocock regarding a potential threat to Napton Hill, which up until this point I'd been totally unaware!

Image by: www.warwickshireartists.co.uk

For those who don't know Napton, the hill on which the village is built is just over 500 feet above sea level and is renown for small falls of migrant birds during the spring and autumn. Over the years it has thrown up the occasional gem such as Firecrest, Ring Ouzel, Snow Bunting, Icterine Warbler and Yellow-browed Warbler. The church yard itself over many years has been a haven for Spotted Flycatchers and photographers and birders alike make an annual pilgrimage to see these summer visitors.

Here's what Kevin kindly forwarded on to me: 'An application to develop land adjacent to Church Lane has been made (Application Found Here)  that many of us feel will adversely affect the amenity value of the land on the hill. The application is for one two-bedroom bungalow, but the adjacent plots (owned exclusively by builders) are much bigger and if a precedent is set we could end up with several hundred new houses next to the church. The application was made rather stealthily (no mention in the parish magazine) and we were lucky to spot the site planning notice before it was removed. We had just enough time to raise a petition and make representation to the district council planner dealing with the matter. We have met a representative of the Council for the Protection of Rural England and believe that CPRE will object to the application'

Kevin also pointed out that while he was investigating the above application he discovered that there is also an application to develop the old brick works on Brickyard Lane. This is obviously something that needs to be monitored with great interest and like myself I would urge any fellow birding bloggers who visit or know this beautiful area to highlight these applications on their individual blogs.

It would be a great shame to lose such a local gem and I for one will be offering my support, thanks to Kevin for the heads up!