Local MP, Thérèse Coffey, believes that politicians should designate Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) rather than experts at Natural England. Along with other Conservative MPs, she is supporting a bill to transfer responsibility for designating SSSI from Natural England to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). If it proceeds into law then social, cultural and economic factors could be taken into account and potentially override scientific interests.
Julian Cusack, Green Party candidate for Suffolk Coastal, said
‘The government has a legal duty to halt the decline of species by 2030. Currently only 3% of land in England is protected and managed for nature. The last thing we need is politicians getting in the way of increasing the protection of important wildlife sites.
SSSI are the finest sites for wildlife and natural features in England, supporting many characteristic, rare and endangered species, habitats and natural features. There are several important SSSI in Suffolk Coastal including some which will be impacted by the construction of Sizewell C and the proposed National Grid energy projects.
The importance of the SSSI designation is exemplified by Sizewell Marshes SSSI which is home to rare plant species and supports breeding birds such as teal, gadwall, snipe and lapwings. Due to its designation as an SSSI, the Sizewell C project team is now obliged to develop a replacement habitat elsewhere to compensate for damage to the marshes.’
The bill to transfer responsibility for designating SSSI is a private member’s bill and is scheduled for a second reading in the House of Commons on Friday 26 April 2024.