Cromwell Bottom

Cromwell Bottom

NEWS - MEETINGS - EVENTS

April 2015 Updated Link on The future of Cromwell Bottom Sign our PETITION (click) to help Cromwell Bottom
WILDLIFE SITING /IDENTIFICATION Send Details or Pictures of finds for identification click to email RECORDS. Please Note ALL lists and Biological Records are Copyright Protected (C) Colin Duke 1998 - 2018 on behalf of the Freshwater Environment Ecology Trust . they should NOT be used or reproduced without permission

Sunday, 21 June 2015


Sign Our Petition Help Protect Cromwell Bottom from idiots
Petition


Calderdale Council The Dirty Man of The River 



Calder  - 'swift stream' Celtic.


Leave  Nature & Wildlife Alone..Sign Our petition Today....Help Protect Tomorrow

Unlawful Discharge to Calder



Land Fill 20 yrs of insidious poisoning

Rubbish

If they cant look after it Now They wont when they try to commercialise it Say no to Development   !!!

Safeguard your Green Space say no to Commercialisation

Petition

Abhainn An T-Sluaigh (Gaelic original)
Chaneil an t-adhar os cionnLunnainn a nochd soileir nodorch.
Fada bhoabhainn ant-sluaigh.
Gun sgial air coinnealmor latha no reultan nah-oidhche.
Fada bho abhainn ant-sluaigh.
An sea s'am baile gunchadal gun fhois is gun saorsa.
Fada bho abhainn an t-sluaigh
.Casan a' gluasad an abhainn antuil.
 Fada bho abhainn ant-sluaigh.
Na cuibhlichean'scabhaig a tionndaidh gun sgur.
Fada bho abhainn an t-sluaigh.
Cus ag adhradh beairteas airaltair an tshaoghail.
Fada bhoabhainn an t-sluaigh.
Cach gundochas gun dachaidh air sraideangun ghaol.
Fada bho abhainn ant-sluaigh.
Leis gach dath s'gachcreideamh gach cainnt as gachcearn.
Fada bho abhainn ant-sluaigh.
Gach ceist is gachfreagairt sios an abhainn gucuan.
Fada bho abhainn ant-sluaigh.
The Crowed River (English translation)
The skies above London areneither clear nor dark.
The great candle of daylight and the stars of the night cannot be seen.
In this city that never sleeps thereis no quit no stillness.
Footsteps keep moving.
The river in full flood.
The relentless wheels keep turning withoutpause.
Many worshipping wealth atthe world's altar.
Others without hope or home on streets that holdno love.
With the various racescreeds and languages from all corners of the globe.
Eachquestion and answer rushing down the river to the ocean.
The need to be far from the crowded river.

Saturday, 20 June 2015

Writing Competition "Failing Nature and Wildlife "

Unlike the HSS we will be running a Competition open to our Members and ALL alike called "Failing Nature and Wildlife " we would like to hear your essay on what you think the Local Authority in Calderdale are doing wrong in the management of the LNR and throughout  . Unlike the HSS competition we havent taken a brief from the council and find it more important to identify and protect the turbulent time that the Nature Reserve is going through to the benefit of wildlife.  You dont need to be a member of FEET who have been recording in Calderdale for over 20 yrs but are welcome to join see FEET website. Visit our web site to see what we have found over the years http://www.ukwildlife.net/ much of it in Calderdale

email your entry to email FEET Essay  Competition

The competition is open to all ages and abilities and unlike the HSS Competition we are not precluding anyone from writing an essay.

It can be as short or long as you like and as technical or moving observational as you can make it , each will be given equal merit

There are two categories and a Prize for each category some key headings are given but its YOUR essay

1. Observational

2. Technical

Observational

What do you see going wrong
Why or How it effects you
How the beauty nad tranquility has been affected
What changes you have seen at Cromwell Bottom tor accross Calderdale
The pressures you have noticed on Wildlife

Technical

The role of a Biodiversity Remit NERC Act 2006
How impartial is a Local Authority Biodiversity Officer
20 Yrs of Leachate
Developing in GB or Landfill
Planning per se !!!
Flood Control
How the Hydro Scheme might harm the river How cost effective is it
A load of old gas Whats in the combustable producec  How cost effective is it and whats it releasing
Footfall and Cycling
Wheres are BAP and how is it being delivered

Prizes

First Prize in each category   Collins Bird Guide

email FEET Essay Competition

Friday, 19 June 2015

The Councils Consultation on Cromwell Bottom LNR - Reasons NOT To Be Fooled

The Councils Consultation

Firstly I am now in a position to assert the councils consultation is flawed firstly it was scheduled at events that catered for a disproportionally large number of visitors attending Brighouse 40 Weekend at events and was not predominantly aimed at local people.and to Questionairres circulated ourside Calderdale on Noodl

Secondly I have requested that Helen Rhodes be withdrawn from the process due to a significant conflict of interest which is currently with the CEO at the moment and involves vested interest

Thirdly as indicated the Council are approaching private land owners outside the consultative process and enterring into a series of negotiations outside the any consultative outcome thereby making a shambles of a consultative process which in fact Helen Rhodes refused to engage in

Fourthly some of the material facts being presented where incorrect if not misleading and does not reflect the current position of conservation management of a local nature reserve or any vulnerable groups using the reserve as a result of previous funding bids namely , blind disabled, elderly or Schools

Fifthly, given it is Ms Rhodes field of expertise , the questionairre was not a validated piece of work which could in any way be taken as serious in so far its structure presentation was biassed and prejudiced in its outcome

Sixth Given the Publics lack of scrutiny it is likely that such statistics would be presented to Cabinet in such a way to be a fore gone conclusion

Seventh The Nature reserve due to its popularity is being used as a primer to justify other elements of master planning without due regard to the authorities lawful obligations ( NERC ACT 2006 )

Eight Images and information relating to North Loop are not that, North Loop is NOT a former Landfill Site , it remains a Closed Landfill Site Regulated Under Licence by the environment Agency in the process of remediation until such times as the EA satisified that remediation is complete . The consequence of promoting it at such a juncture is resulting in the puiblic accessing the site through perimeter breeches such to constitute a position of endangerment

Nine Nowhere is there a clear aspiration to nominate North Loop as a LNR Local Nature Reserve which is deliberately not being dealt with advice from Natural England is clear there does not have to be substantive biodiversity or for that matter public access for the process to be begun simply a management plan and aspiration from the local land owner. There are a number of environmnetal issues which bring the impartiality of councils Biodiversity remit into question . I express concerns that there appears to be a stong dictat derived from the Councils Communities from senior management  Directorate bordering on what might be perceived as bullying

Ten The authorities view is increasingly to turn this land foot print into a cash cow to the exclusion of conservation groups and ultimately to the Public who will pay for car parking , and services already paid for within the council

Eleven As a conservation group engaging in access for the disabled and with a membership reflecting the same the Councils position in failing to provide FEET equivalent structures on the reserve as accorded with other stake holder groups as concerning and outside the equality act

Twelve In relation to data if any group or otherwise is interested in processing or qualifying the statistical basis or interpretation of the same them it should be readily available there are clear implications in terms of Freedom of Information and Data. Given the Councils model contained a significant portion of Lower Valley other than the Nature reserve there is substantial concern that such informtion will be incorrectly applied to any Master Planning or Cabinet Decision Making inappropriately

Thirteen There is now evidence that the Council are as initially identified approaching land owners to offer financial inducements outside the proces . so if you think you consulattion counted think again . It is very likely given that such activities remain unsanctioned by cabinet , after all its your money, that such officers are acting ultra vires , being their powers

There is an overwhelming view that the beauty of this natures reserve is best managed by leaving it alone. If you are in agreement This is best brought accross by sending a clear message to the council

Petition

Having read this post What are YOUR views there is a POLL on the RIGHT seeking your assessment by signing the Petition you will also give a message to the Council

Petition

Cromwell Bottom Stakeholder Groups

For avoidance of doubt and clarity There are however two Primary Blogs run by two parity stakeholder groups Freshwater Environment Ecology Trust and CBWG which differ and contribute to the Nature Reserve in different ways and increasingly its future
For More Information on FEET and the work we undertake please visit the link . Thank You.

Monday, 15 June 2015

Meeting 15th June 2015 How Green is Your Valley ?

FEET -  Freshwater Environment Ecology Trust held a meeting  at Cromwell House at short notice at request of local residents entitled How Green  is Your Valley ? 14 Residents attended   regarding Planning Matters and the overall  impact for change in Planning Direction  and Master Planning for the lower Valley and which had a mutual theme of protecting the unique character of Lower Valley (as ascribed by the authorities UDP as Green Belt )

Key points achieved

Widening Awarem#ness
Enhancing participation
Communicating Issues

Particulatly relevant where/are the councils consultative prcoess that govern the future Master Planning which in our evidential view is flawed for  a number of reasons , and where there is considerable overlap in local planning matters and the healthy future of Cromwell Bottom LNR

We are dissapointed in the position of Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group in  supporting the councils Consulatation Process. It is FEETs view that the consultations will be applied , as per the exhibition model of the whole of Lower Valley to decision Master Planning using the LNR simply as a lever to that effect .

 Such consultaive processes will likely involve an analogous  Scenario to the Library Loss  whereby the People of Halifax where denied a Primary facility , paid for them and fit for purpose and overwhelmingly reflected by the views of the People of Halifax who made them clear and where ignored. It is also unclear what is being consulted on , and whether opening the North face of the Valley will be harmful to the Biodiversity of the Nature Reserve and Valley as a whole by impacting on the Nature Valuie of Cromwell Bottom LNR . Additionally material provided is inaccurate, North Loop is a Closed  Landfill Site and will remain so until such times the regulated site is remediated and licence discharged by the EA - Environment Ageny. It is therefore not a former Landfill Site. but in fact a landfill site in the process of remediation.

The council has had a 20 yr legacy of not remediating Landfill at this locality and  has insidiously permeated into the environment those days are over environmental law has changed . Let us not disguise this fact and the presumption to devlop land under national planning directives does not exempt or provide a caveat for any local authoty or developer to ignore ground or water contamination

 Additionally in regarrd to surrounding Land. The promotion of cycling on the foot print of the reserve also conflicts with the current managment of a Local Nature Reserve

We will also shortly be addressing HSS - Halifax Scientific Society to ensure all of its members are made aware of all technical and scientific  issues are raised and to establish whether or not they are raising or endorsing questions as to why the process of nominating and Safe Guarding North Loop as a Local Nature Reserve or whether they are currently monitorring  it FOC to conform to the Environment Agencies Direction to the Local Authority to save them fees on ecological consultants and which is compulsory in its re-instatement such that the Authority may then turn it into a well landscaped business park

The same rationale applies to Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group in regard to their consitution which had now been ammended a number of times removing the direction of haveng the LNR expanded to accomodate North Loop or in the alternative a SSI - Site of Scientific Interest

The Public are not being made aware of what private land owners are being approached and what is being negotiated as opposed to consulted,  FEET will establish that with a FOI to Calderdasle Council MDC to establish such facts or in the alternative any issues relevant to Development in Green Belt to ensure UDP Policies are followed and Green Belt Direction Achieved

As a stakeholder group who is wholly INDEPENDENT of local authority decision making we can no longer endorse the rationale of Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group in supporting the councils Consultative process  which is geared to making a financial cash cow out the Nature Reserve , to include business and commercial , facilities car parking and other financial derivatives . We believe the actions of other groups are such to juxtapose  themselves at the expense of nature and without the basic conservation inititives

If you too are of the belief that changes will be detrimental to the environment please exercise  your view and sign the petition at Change Org. Thank you to those that have done so (including  memeber of CBWG )

Protect Cromwell Bottom as a Local Nature Reserve LNR (Click Link)

How green is the Council ?

Not as Green as you might think we have now three incident reports relating to Landfill or Pollution incidents effecting the River Calder arising from Calderdale MDC .

The council has had a 20 yr legacy of not remediating Landfill at this locality and  has insidiously permeated into the environment those days are over environmental law has changed . Let us not disguise this fact and the presumption to devlop land under national planning directives does not exempt or provide a caveat for any local authoty or developer to ignore ground or water contamination

FEET will continue to be a sentinel for the River and the Wildlife it supports in the Valley  and will continue to send clear messages to those that pollute the environment

If you are interest in learning more about FEET or seeking a full   view of management issues affecting the Nature Reserve in order for YOU to make an informed decision please visit our stand at the LNR or contact Colin Duke FEET 

Petition

The Councils Consultation

Firstly I am now in a position to assert the councils consultation is flawed firstly it was scheduled at events that catered for a disproportionally large number of visitors attending Brighouse 40 Weekend at events and was not predominantly aimed at local people.

Secondly I have requested that Helen Rhodes be withdrawn from the process due to a significant conflict of interest which is currently with the CEO at the moment and involves vested interest

Thirdly as indicated the Council are approaching private land owners outside the consultative process and enterring into a series of negotiations outside the any consultative outcome thereby making a shambles of a consultative process which in fact Helen Rhodes refused to engage in

Fourthly some of the material facts being presented where incorrect if not misleading and does not reflect the current position of conservation management of a local nature reserve or any vulnerable groups using the reserve as a result of previous funding bids namely , blind disabled, elderly or Schools

Fifthly, given it is Ms Rhodes field of expertise , the questionairre was not a validated piece of work which could in any way be taken as serious in so far its structure presentation was biassed and prejudiced in its outcome

Sixth Given the Publics lack of scrutiny it is likely that such statistics would be presented to Cabinet in such a way to be a fore gone conclusion

Seventh The Nature reserve due to its popularity is being used as a primer to justify other elements of master planning without due regard to the authorities lawful obligations ( NERC ACT 2006 )

Eight Images and information relating to North Loop are not that, North Loop is NOT a former Landfill Site , it remains a Closed Landfill Site Regulated Under Licence by the environment Agency in the process of remediation until such times as the EA satisified that remediation is complete . The consequence of promoting it at such a juncture is resulting in the puiblic accessing the site through perimeter breeches such to constitute a position of endangerment

Nine Nowhere is there a clear aspiration to nominate North Loop as a LNR Local Nature Reserve which is deliberately not being dealt with advice from Natural England is clear there does not have to be substantive biodiversity or for that matter public access for the process to be begun simply a management plan and aspiration from the local land owner. There are a number of environmnetal issues which bring the impartiality of councils Biodiversity remit into question . I express concerns that there appears to be a stong dictat derived from the Councils Communities from senior management  Directorate bordering on what might be perceived as bullying

Ten The authorities view is increasingly to turn this land foot print into a cash cow to the exclusion of conservation groups and ultimately to the Public who will pay for car parking , and services already paid for within the council

Eleven As a conservation group engaging in access for the disabled and with a membership reflecting the same the Councils position in failing to provide FEET equivalent structures on the reserve as accorded with other stake holder groups as concerning and outside the equality act

Twelve In relation to data if any group or otherwise is interested in processing or qualifying the statistical basis or interpretation of the same them it should be readily available there are clear implications in terms of Freedom of Information and Data. Given the Councils model contained a significant portion of Lower Valley other than the Nature reserve there is substantial concern that such informtion will be incorrectly applied to any Master Planning or Cabinet Decision Making inappropriately

Thirteen There is now evidence that the Council are as initially identified approaching land owners to offer financial inducements outside the proces . so if you think you consulattion counted think again . It is very likely given that such activities remain unsanctioned by cabinet , after all its your money, that such officers are acting ultra vires , being their powers

There is an overwhelming view that the beauty of this natures reserve is best managed by leaving it alone. If you are in agreement This is best brought accross by sending a clear message to the council

Petition

Having read this post What are YOUR views there is a POLL on the RIGHT seeking your assessme

Petition


Jux-Ta-Posing  !

Such vital work is not assisted by CBWG misdirecting Links to their own Blog or referrences by HSS to CBWG Blog as the Official Blog there is no Official Blog per se for CB This is not clever just a process of individuals juxtaposing and excluding input of others .. For avoidance of doubt and clarity There are however two Primary Blogs run by two parity stakeholder groups Freshwater Environment Ecology Trust and CBWG which differ and contribute to the Nature Reserve in different ways and increasingly its future

For More Information on FEET and the work we undertake please vist the link . Thank You.

Thursday, 4 June 2015

A Duty For All Local Authorities The NERC Act

We shall be evaluating the future of cromwell Bottom in the context of the authorities statutory responsibility , a duty being that which is required in Law

LINK The BIODIVERSITY DUTY FOR PUBLIC AUTHORITIES

The link to the Petition to Protect Cromwell Bottom is here

PETITION

Wednesday, 3 June 2015

Rhabdomiris striatellus Nymph another hectad record

Normally this colourful Mirid frequently found on or near oak across the UK usually a common species with yellow and brown stripes and distinct yellow heart shape on thorax would be more visible as an adult.  Females are usually paler then males The Image below depicts the Nymph of this speices  The Adult bears similarityto Miris striatus However the Nymph is distinctive for Rhabdomiris striatellus



National Distribution Please Allow Time to Load .



VC 63 Distribution  Please Allow Time to Load
.

Hairy Rove Beetle - Cromwell Bottom

More here Hairy Rove Beetle



Creophilus maxillosus 7636

Monday, 1 June 2015

Hoverfly Parahelophilus sp A New Record

Female Parhelophilus sp. likely Parahelophilus sp frutetorum or versicolor

There are three very similar Parhelophilus species, all are compact and brightly coloured hoverflies, well covered in yellow hairs. Separation of the species needs careful and close examination.
Habitat Particularly alongside ponds and ditches. Flying April to October, peaking in June.

Parhelophilus frutetorum 8020