Nature Loses AGAIN Disappointing Outcome for Amendments 38 and 40 to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

 

The CIEEM is The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management is the leading professional membership body representing and supporting ecologists and environmental managers in the UK, Ireland and abroad. (And, no, I am not involved in it. No one ever wants me involved with things 😂)

On 13th November 2025 

MPs have tonight voted on Lords’ amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill as it returned to the House of Commons.

CIEEM has been actively encouraging MPs to support Amendments 38 and 40, which sought to ensure that planning and infrastructure decisions protect nature and promote genuinely sustainable development.

Despite clear concerns raised by experts, communities and environmental professionals – most of whom were not consulted during the drafting of this Bill – the Government stood firm in rejecting both Amendments 38 and 40, urging MPs to vote against them.

On Amendment 38, there was a small concession from the Planning Minister, Matthew Pennycook MP, who said: “I am minded to include chalk streams in the suite of national policies for decision making coming later this year.”

Amendment 40 was subsequently taken to a vote, which the Government won by 244 votes to 132. This is a disappointing outcome for nature.

We would like to thank the Peers in the House of Lords for their hard work in improving this Bill, and the MPs from across the political spectrum – particularly those from the party of government – who spoke up for common sense, nature and the public good.

There remains a possibility that Peers in the House of Lords will insist on reintroducing Amendment 40, especially given the large majority and cross-party support it received in the upper chamber. The Bill will return to the Lords on Monday 24 November 2025.

CIEEM continues to call for a planning system that works with nature, not against it.

Let Me Make It Clear

 I am not going to go into it in public yet but  people need to understand that badgers in Bristol, since the old Avon Badger Group folded in 1994, has been the work of Bristol Badger Group.

If you send maps and locations of badger setts in Bristol to an outside group you have no guarantee who will get access to that information.  I am the one getting the kick back from various official bodies for stopping development on badger sites. I do not expect a thank you since the priority are the badgers and their conservation.  

You either support BBG or a group with very little interest in local badgers and do not attempt to protect Bristol setts, log dead badgers in the City or treat/deal with sick and injured badgers. It is a bloody ludicrous situation that in many cases BBG gets to hear second or third hand about what is going on in the area it covers BECAUSE there is no support.

I have the option of closing the group and after that...good luck.

Badger Deaths and a Need For Post Mortems

 Sadly, the number of badgers killed on Bristol roads has risen.  In every case the culprits are drivers going too fast and hitting animals but not stopping or even reporting the incident. 

As of yesterday the total of (known) badger deaths stood at 82

Considering known fox deaths have gone well past 300 things could be worse but the main problem is getting people to actually report seeing dead badgers as to most people (and I have heard this many times over the years) it is a case of "IT was dead. Who's interested in that!" 

One thing that I really wanted to get organised are post mortems on badgers found dead as the assumption always has to be RTA -and in the past illegally killed badgers have been put on roadsides so people assume RTA rather than a crime.  With the suppression of the Fox Deaths Study by official bodies and my having been told that even if I suspect a disease I would never be allowed to submit a fox (that is how crazy things are) trying to submit a badger is impossible.  

In fact for several years -and I have this in emails- I was told that badgers could not undergo necropsy due to Health and Safety regulations and that turned out to be a lie. If anyone knows of  a pathologist in the Bristol area who might be willing to carry out necropsies on a voluntary basis please let me know.

Bristol Wildlife Rescue

 

Bristol Badger Deaths Update

 as of 16th October the total number of known badger deaths in Bristol (all car related) stands at 81. 

 Sadly, the worst stretch of road is known but speeding and Green Council indifference to wildlife deaths means there will probably be even more deaths before 2026.

Public Interfering When A wildlife rescuer is treating an animal

 

Public Interfering When A wildlife rescuer is treating an animal

A member of the public should not interfere with a rescuer who is treating wildlife in the UK. Interfering could be considered animal cruelty, as it may harm the animal and prevent it from receiving proper care. If you are concerned about an animal's welfare or think a rescuer is not acting properly, you should contact the RSPCA for advice and to report a potential issue

Reasons to not interfere

• Potential for harm: 

  Moving or touching a wild animal can cause it additional stress, injury, or pain. It can also expose the rescuer to injury or zoonotic diseases. 
• Wildlife rescue ethics: 

  The general principle is to allow the wildlife rescue to be handled by trained professionals to minimize human interference and ensure the animal's best interests are served. 
• Legal implications: 

  Interfering with a rescuer could be considered a form of animal cruelty, especially if the rescuer is in the process of providing care to a wild animal. 
• Professional expertise: 

  A wildlife rescuer is trained to handle the animal and provide the necessary care, so a member of the public should not attempt to take over or disrupt their work. 

What to do if you are concerned

• Contact the RSPCA: 

  If you are concerned about a rescuer's actions, you should report it to the RSPCA for investigation.
• Monitor the situation from a safe distance: 

  If you are not able to contact the RSPCA immediately, you should keep a safe distance and observe the situation without interfering.
• Do not intervene: 

  Unless the situation is critical and the rescuer is not responding, do not attempt to take over the situation yourself. 

Fingers Crossed

 

When the environment and wildlife are under threat I have learnt after two decades that there are two ways to deal with authorities. The Left Hand and the Right Hand.

The Left is ever so polite and simply states facts trying to be as polite as possible.

The Right is the sledge hammer. I basically stop being "ever so polite" but am polite while showing my teeth. The Right Hand rarely fails.

I was alerted to a recent development but had no photos of badgers setts, no area plans showing where badgers were so as that stood I had nothing to back me up. However, I knew about badgers at the site in the 1970s and while people tend to be uninterested in them I am.

I found that BRERC had a record of badgers and though they would not give the exact location the term they used identified the spot.

The person from the old Avon Badger Group refused to allow me to see maps and info the group had gathered pre 1994 and told me "I shall proudly take them to my grave" -the logic there escapes me.

It happens that one person contacted me ands though unconnected to the group involved gave me a lot of info on badgers on the site in question.

THAT gave me ammunition.

I was polite for as long as possible but the council ignoring things I posted on all my blogs and social media, emailed and poked DEFRA, Natural England, and more for two weeks -even threatening exposure of the auction house (who claimed it was a Bristol company auctioning the site) trying to sell land illegally by not declaring badger setts.

I literally spammed several of the City Councillors who were involved with legalities and I posted here previously my "no more warnings" email to them.

Basically a couple weeks of morning until...morning and despite Chris Packham being seemingly uninterested (again) I tried everything.

I am now told that the auction is off. A little bird at the Council tells me I am a very unliked dirty word now. My big bow out fight back.

I am now awaiting the kick back ("they are going to be causing problems") as BCC do not like me and just lost £400K

Never EVER wait until it is too late to contact someone to help take action but if you do reach out you better make bloody sure you share the information you have.