Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman's reassuring the RSPB, and the thousands who voiced concerns, that legal protection for the environment will remain as "strong as ever".
Phew. Job done? Not yet!
While her announcement is welcome, the details of the full "Red Tape Challenge" have yet to be revealed. Martin Harper, RSPB Conservation Director says:
“I am extremely glad to see that the Government has listened to the wishes of the public who responded overwhelmingly to this process saying environmental protection rules must be maintained. More than 15,000 people responded to the RSPB’s call to step up for nature by emailing business secretary Vince Cable highlighting the importance of good environmental regulations.
“We understand the need to come up with smarter regulation and when a set of laws have been written and amended over many years then there is often a need to simplify and streamline them. However we will be watching this process closely to ensure they consult properly and come up with legislation that does the same important job. Environmental regulation is vital for ensuring our wildlife and natural habitats are allowed to flourish, our air and water is kept clean and our climate is protected. Regulation is usually the most cost effective means of the Government achieving their environmental objectives.
“We are now entering an era of voluntary initiatives driven primarily by the Government's belief that they are less costly to administer than more stringent, regulated alternatives. We have very little experience of voluntary initiatives in this country and that which we do have generally demonstrates that they are simply not effective. We will work with the Government to smarten regulation but we will not allow tried and tested approaches to be replaced by measures which appeal to business but do not deliver the level of protection enshrined in our environmental laws.This is not the only announcement we are expecting about environmental regulations. Let’s hope that logic and evidence informs the habitats regulations review which is to be published later this week.”
The Chancellor's budget statement will more clearly indicate whether the UK Government has listened to the loud and clear public message that investment in any development that doesn't take environmental concerns in to consideration is too high a cost to pay. Come on Chancellor, dream the dream.