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PLANS for the new science park at Porton Down have been held up because of a rare bird.

An important breeding site for stone curlews lies close to the perimeter of the 12.35 acre site.

It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is protected under European legislation as a Special Conservation Area.

The RSPB has lodged an objection to the plans, which it says is "likely to have a significant impact" on the Special Conservation Area and that stone curlews, which have attempted to breed within 600 metres of the site on Idmiston Down, are on the "red list" as "a priority for UK conservation". They are "highly vulnerable" to disturbance.

A more detailed assessment was therefore needed.

It said proposed road improvements to cope with the extra traffic generated might also need further study. Stone curlews have bred within 500 metres of Pheasant Road and are highly susceptible to traffic disturbance.

Natural England has also raised questions about the cumulative effect of this and other nearby developments on the stone curlews.

As a result, the council is seeking further information but hopes to resolve the issue in time for the northern area committee's next meeting.

According to the RSPB, which has monitored the stone curlew population in the area for more than20 years, there are only 300 breeding pairs of in the UK, and 100 of them are in and around Wiltshire.

Porton Down is thought to support between 20 and 30 pairs.

They are birds which prefer to breed on bare, stony ground surrounded by chalk grassland, and the Porton Down site is regarded as extremely important.

An RSPB spokesman said: "We work closely with the people at Porton Down on stone curlews and their habitat, and we have a really good relationship with them.

"Any proposed development which might affect the birds must undergo appropriate assessment' by experts and we were simply reminding people of this."

1:49pm Thursday 15th May 2008

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