Johnson pledges to protect newts in swimming pool plan

BORIS Johnson says he is committed to protecting newts, even though they are threatening his plans to build an outdoor swimming pool.

The former prime minister, who moved to Brightwell-cum-Sotwell with his wife Carrie and three children in May, wants to install an 11m x 4m swimming pool with a holding tank and soakaway in the grounds of their £3.8million property.

But the couple’s application to South Oxfordshire District Council, the planning authority, has stalled after an objection that great crested newts, a protected species, live on the site.

Edward Church, the council’s countryside officer, says: “There are known populations of great crested newts within Brightwell-cum-Sotwell in the east of the village.

“Mapping shows that there is a pond on site and a moat immediately adjacent to the southern boundary, both well within 250m of the position of the proposed pool. The pool would be constructed in an area of grassland bordered by scattered trees.

“When referring to the great crested newt impact risk map, the proposed development falls within the red zone of highest risk to great crested newts.

“Natural England guidance requires that proposals need to demonstrate no risk to great crested newts, or appropriate levels of mitigation and compensation following assessment.

“Based on the information available to me currently, I am of the opinion that there is a reasonable likelihood that great crested newts are present and could be impacted by the proposed development.

“Protected species surveys are likely to be required to support this application.”

Mr Church also said that the pool would result in the permanent loss of grassland, causing a small net loss of biodiversity.

Great crested newts are protected by the law, meaning that Mr Johnson would have to move them to another site or offer alternative habitats for them on his property should they be found in the vicinity of the pool.

It is illegal to damage or destroy a breeding or resting place of the newts and their eggs or to capture, kill, disturb or injure them deliberately.

The application was also criticised by Oxfordshire County Council’s archaeological services, which stated the site was located in an area of considerable archaeological interest as it was likely to have been the site of a 12th century siege castle.

It said: “It is possible that this development, despite its relatively limited nature, could encounter archaeological deposits related to the medieval development and use of the moated site.” Brightwell-cum-Sotwell Parish Council has submitted a holding objection subject to an archaeological survey being carried out.

Writing in his Daily Mail column on Saturday, Mr Johnson said he would ensure protection of the newts, citing Britain’s problems with biodiversity.

He said: “If it turns out that our garden is so honoured and so fortunate as to be the home of some newts — great crested, palmate, whatever — I will do whatever it takes to protect them.

“It is a stunning fact that we have fewer species of amphibian and reptile than any other country in Europe.

“As for the few species we still have in this country, they are plummeting in numbers.

“Yes, these newt rules sound barmy... but what kind of Britain do we want to leave our children?”

A decision on the application is due to be made by the council by next Monday.