Cusop Hill road closure 23/06/25 - environmental surveys/assessments for the proposed works
Case reference EIR2025/01183
Received 17 June 2025
Published 14 July 2025
Request
I note that the road over Cusop Hill from Hay towards Michaelchurch Escley is closed for 2 days from the 23rd June 2025.
Given the poor showing by the BBLP ecologists previously at this location, I am requesting to see the environmental surveys/assessments informing the proposed works, before they are undertaken. I must say that I only have a slight notion as what works BBLP may be planning to undertake.
It cannot be much of a challenge for BBLP to supply in the requested information as they must have it to hand given the imminent commencement.
Response
I note that the road over Cusop Hill from Hay towards Michaelchurch Escley is closed for 2 days from the 23rd June 2025.
Given the poor showing by the BBLP ecologists previously at this location, I am requesting to see the environmental surveys/assessments informing the proposed works, before they are undertaken. I must say that I only have a slight notion as what works BBLP may be planning to undertake.
It cannot be much of a challenge for BBLP to supply in the requested information as they must have it to hand given the imminent commencement.
Answer: The requested information for an environmental survey/assessment informing the above proposed works is not held.
The Service Area have advised: Following a review of the location and nature of the works, we can confirm that the activity was essential maintenance due to damage sustained to the Vehicle Restraint System (VRS) following a recent road traffic collision. The repairs were necessary to ensure the continued safety of road users and could not be delayed. The location of the works was reviewed internally (via verbal conversation) with the ecologist and due to the nature of the proposed works it was assessed that the ecological risk was low.
The nearest watercourse is over 75 meters from the working area with no visible connections that would pose a pollution risk.
There could have been nesting birds in the adjacent hedge. However, as the hedge was not directly impacted and the works were confined to the road carriageway verge—an area already subject to regular disturbance—any nesting birds would likely have had some tolerance to the activity.
There are no National Biodiversity Network (NBN) records of dormice or badgers within 1 km of the site. Additionally, as the works were conducted during the active season and did not involve vegetation clearance, any reptiles present would likely have moved away naturally due to the disturbance.
Given the limited scope of the works, the low ecological sensitivity of the site, and the urgent safety requirement, it is reasonable to conclude that a full environmental survey may not have been required.
Documents
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