Rejected petition Request Network Rail to stop felling 100s of trees, priority habitat, west of Llanfairfechan.
Network Rail intend to fell hundreds of mature broadleaved trees, which form a woodland wildlife corridor west from Llanfairfechan station to Glan y Mor Elias. Such woodland is priority protected habitat, as designated by Welsh Government. They have already felled many trees around the station itself. The corridor connects two riverine habitats and is important habitat for birds and bats. The trees are mature and therefore rich in invertebrate life. They are also an important landscape feature.
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The work started in August, was temporarily halted following complaints from local residents, and is now due to restart in earnest on 26 October. Network Rail has refused to meet up with neighbouring landowners and tenants of the Council Allotments to discuss the matter. They began the work without having informed the Town and County Councils. They trespassed on private land, without permission, to gain access to the trees. They then started felling directly over a private road used by allotment tenants with no warning signs or safety barriers in place. Many mature trees have already been lost, and they are proposing to fell most of the remaining trees and pollard and ring bark the rest, allowing them to die and removing them later. This will result in the loss of an important wildlife corridor and landscape element and also a significant windbreak for the allotment site. We implore Welsh Government to request Network Rail to stop this felling and protect the habitat for the future.
Why was this petition rejected?
It’s not clear what the petition is asking the Senedd or Welsh Government to do. Petitions need to call on the Senedd or Government to take a specific action.
Petitions to the Senedd must call for a specific action that falls within the powers of the Senedd or Welsh Government. As responsibility for Network Rail is not devolved, the Welsh Government do not possess direct decision-making powers regarding the line.
As a result, it is not possible for the Senedd to take the action called for by your petition.
Further information about the powers and responsibilities of the Senedd can be found here: https://senedd.wales/en/abthome/role-of-assembly-how-it-works/Pages/Powers.aspx
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