Local plan scoping consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 1337

Received: 04/08/2026

Respondent: Jane Smith

Dear sir or madam,

Re: Land at Lawton Heath Road (new Local Plan ‘Call for Sites’)

On behalf of Cherry Lane Toad Patrols, I would like to point out that ‘Field 1’ at Lawton Heath Road, as featured in the list of potential Local Plan sites online, is a key migratory site for the common toads that we monitor and assist during our annual toad patrols on and around Cherry Lane.

The Cherry Lane toad crossing site, which we have been monitoring for over six years now, is registered with both the national amphibian charity Froglife and with the Department of Transport and is a key breeding site for endangered common toads locally.

Common toads have suffered a 68% decrease in populations nationally in the past 30 years alone, due to a combination of road building, construction, pond loss, loss of woodland, pesticide use and climate change.

Some 25 volunteers patrol the Cherry Lane toad crossing each Spring, with patrollers’ ages ranging from five to 82, and it would be devastating to common toads locally if construction were to happen on or near this site, possibly contributing to local extinction in the Cherry Lane area where numbers are already declining.

We can provide our own official statistics on numbers of toads, frogs and newts logged at this site over the past six years if needed.

We would like our opposition to this site being used in the Local Plan to be formally registered please.

Kindest regards,

Jane Smith