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Highways Agency statement in response to Great Crested Newts and M4 motorway drain
31st March - Highways Agency statement in response to Great Crested Newts and M4 motorway drain, near village of Daunstey, Wiltshire.
A Highways Agency spokesperson said:
"We are aware of Mr and Mrs Histed's situation and their concerns. We have been in contact with them to alert them to our activities and responsibilities and what we and other relevant authorities can do to improve the drainage around the area, which is at risk of flooding.
"Great Crested Newts are a European Protected Species (EPS). They are protected under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 and the associated offences include the disturbance, capture or killing of any such animal or destruction of any breeding or resting sites
"Whilst carrying out routine surveys of the local area, as part of our maintenance programme, it was identified that areas of the drain may be inhabited by Great Crest Newts. We are therefore required, by law, to carry out a full ecological survey to establish whether Great Crested Newts inhabit the area, before we can carry out any maintenance/clearing of the drain.
"We are taking forward the survey which we hope complete in the next three months."
