Disappointment at Radley Lakes Decision

11.39.29am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 17th Oct 2006

The local County Councillors for the Radley Lakes and the adjacent area, Liberal Democrats Bob Johnston and Lesley Legge have expressed their disappointment at the Secretary of State's decision not to call in the Conservative County Council's approval of the application for dumping ash in Radley Lakes.

Cllr Bob Johnston said, "Lesley and I spoke against the application at the County's Planning Committee and have written independently to the Secretary of State asking her to call the decision in. We were the only councillors to speak out against the application, but I would like to thank Save Radley Lakes for their efforts also.

"The lakes are rare aquatic habitats, very much under threat as a national resource from development. It is very unusual to see so many species of wildfowl, freshwater invertebrates, bees, aquatic plans and so on in one habitat. I am bitterly disappointed that the Secretary of State did not consider this rare habitat a special case."

Cllr Lesley Legge added, "I am saddened and surprised that she did not call the decision in. All the reasons she gave in her letter for allowing a call in cover exactly the issues I raised with her - alternative sites, nature conservancy, green belt, being against the Local Plan. I cannot understand her decision that these are not national issues.

"All the people local to the Lakes love their diversity and value them greatly as an amenity. I am disappointed for them."