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Fears over university boathouse

The Wildlife Trust in Cambridgeshire is objecting to plans for a new Cambridge University boathouse on the River Great Ouse at Ely.

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Uni boathouse plans under review over wildlife fears

The Cambridge University Women's Boat Club is to review plans for a new boathouse on the River Great Ouse at Ely after objections from The Wildlife Trust.

There are concerns about birds, otters and water voles in the area.

"We fully recognise that there are concerns over the environmental impact of this planned development, which is why we have worked closely with ecologists and the local authority to introduce mitigation measures.

We met with the three main local conservation groups last November to discuss the plans and hear their concerns and have significantly modified the plans subsequently to address these."

– Anna-Marie Phelps, Cambridge University Women’s Boat Club

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Wildlife fears over new university boathouse

The Wildlife Trust is fighting plans for a new Cambridge University boathouse on the river at Ely in Cambridgeshire.

It says the site is is part of a corridor between the breeding and the feeding grounds of the bitterns, marsh harriers and other birds and is used by otters and water voles.

“The new Cambridge University boathouse could hardly have been proposed in a more sensitive location for wildlife along the Ely stretch of the River Great Ouse. We advised the University boat club last year that it was the wrong location for their new development, but unfortunately they have ignored us as well as other local opinion, and seem intent on putting the interests of one boat race a year ahead of valuing the local environment.”

– Martin Baker, Wildlife Trust Conservation Manager

Wildlife Trust objects to new Cambridge boathouse

The Wildlife Trust has objected to plans for a new university boathouse on the river at Ely Credit: ITV Anglia / Elodie Harper

The Wildlife Trust in Cambridgeshire is objecting to plans for a new university boathouse on the River Great Ouse at Ely.

The Cambridge University Boat Club wants to build a boathouse along with a gym, caretaker's flat and dormitories at Fore Mill Wash.

The Wildlife Trust says it's the wrong development in the wrong place being next to habitat for otters and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

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