DORSET Wildlife Trust have expressed “deep concern” about the current investment into roads, despite the Prime Minister promising a green recovery to the Covid-19 outbreak.

On Tuesday June 30, PM Boris Johnson announced a new deal for Britain “which puts jobs and infrastructure at the centre of the government’s economic growth strategy.”

Whilst Dorset Wildlife Trust welcomes government plans to invest in local nature conservation projects, the announcement has raised concerns about the future of environmental regulations that protect wildlife and the natural environment.

Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Chief Executive, Brian Bleese said, “We must take this opportunity to put nature at the heart of all development.

“Degrading the environment in order to facilitate rapid building will only deepen the environmental and climate crises.

“We need investment in the future health of the natural environment, which will create jobs and stimulate economic growth. Economic growth and environmental improvements should not be mutually exclusive.”

In his speech, the Prime Minister made specific reference to building fast and removing wildlife that presents an obstacle.

The trust is worried that this is painting a “false picture” and blaming wildlife when development timescales depend on a whole host of factors, not least Local Authority capacity and the housing market.

In Dorset, DWT and partners have worked for many years to set up systems that give clarity for developers and speed up the planning process, whilst protecting wildlife.

This is already in place for Dorset’s heathlands and Poole Harbour, whilst Dorset Council run a well-established system to assess wildlife impacts of most applications in their area prior to registration.

Find out more about how Dorset Wildlife Trust is working to ensure a wilder future at www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/wilderfuture.