Written question asked by Bob Spink (Independent (affiliation)) on Tuesday, 14 July 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 July 2009. It was answered by Huw Irranca-Davies (Labour) on Monday, 20 July 2009 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Thundersley Common

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions his Department has had with (a) Essex County Council and (b) Castle Point Borough Council in respect of Thundersley Common in the last five years.

Answer: My Department has had no substantive discussion with either local authority about Thundersley Common in the last five years. However, Natural England (non-departmental public body sponsored by DEFRA) has had discussions with Castle Point borough council.Natural England's purpose is to ensure England's natural environment is conserved, enhanced and managed for current and future generations. An important part of Natural England's remit is the protection of sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs)—the country's best sites for wildlife and geology.Castle Point borough council owns and manages Thundersley Common, which includes Thundersley Great Common SSSI. Within the last five years, discussions in respect of this SSSI between Natural England and the borough council have included several on-site and office meetings and regular discussions by phone, e-mail and letter. Natural England has offered consistent advice to the council on the conservation management of the site, aimed at restoring the heathland habitats for which the SSSI is notified. Since 2007, council staff have negotiated a higher level stewardship agreement with Natural England to support the council's restoration of the SSSI to favourable condition.Within the last five years, Natural England has not held discussions with Essex county council specifically on this SSSI, because the county council does not own or manage it.

Secondary information