Env188 Cutting of vegetation and surveys of Great Crested Newts

25 April 2012

Dear ,

Requests for Information – references 5995 and 6024

Thank you for your requests which I received on 10 and 19 April 2012.  You asked for:

1. White Lion Public House, Penymynydd, Flintshire - copies of all communications in any form and even verbal between CCW and North Wales Police in connection with the trashing of the vegetation and trees on part of the above site without taking precautions or a license under the EU Habitats Directive, Article 12 and 16.
2. The North East Wales Favourable Conservation Status project - all surveys and results to date re the above work that has been carried out over a long period, so you can ascertain what the situation is regarding the population status of the GCN in North East Wales.

Please let me know if this is not an accurate description of the information you have requested.

I have not found any information that fits either description.  However, I believe that North Wales Police and the Countryside Council for Wales may hold the information you are seeking regarding point 1 above.   I have transferred your request to North Wales Police and CCW as you asked me to on the telephone.  I would remind you that spoken exchanges are not covered by the Access to Information legislation, only any written record of them.

The Local Record Centre for North Wales, Cofnod, holds the records you seek as public information regarding point 2 above. You have already received a report of the project you refer to, which describes the sources of data; Cofnod is a partner in that project.  As you are a Flintshire Councillor, and Flintshire County Council is another partner in the project, it would be easiest for you to obtain a further copy by email from the County’s ecologist, Amanda Davies, should you need one. One of the aims of the project is to assess the conservation status of the great crested newt populations in North East Wales, and report on this.  This work is ongoing.

If you believe that I have not followed the relevant laws, or you are unhappy with this response, you may request an internal review by writing to:

Chris Lea, Head of Sustainability and Environmental Evidence Division (SEED) and Nature, Landscape and Outdoor Recreation (NLOR), Sustainable Futures, Welsh Government, Rhodfa Padarn, Aberystwyth, SY23 3UR

When dealing with any concerns, we will follow the principles set out in the Welsh Government’s Code of Practice on Complaints which is available on the Internet at www.wales.gov.uk or by post.

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner.  Normally, however, you should provide us with an opportunity to undertake an internal review before you complain to the Information Commissioner. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Tel: 01625 545 745
Fax: 01625 524 510
Email: casework@ico.gsi.gov.uk

Also, if you think that there has been maladministration in dealing with your request then you may make a complaint to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales who can be contacted at:

Public Services Ombudsman for Wales
Ffordd yr Hen Gae
Pencoed
Bridgend
CF35 5LJ

Yours Sincerely

Nature Conservation
Welsh Government