Sutton and Catfield Fens
Back in June 2014 WVBS members were privileged to visit Sutton Fen with warden Richard Mason. Many of us on that trip readily signed a petition opposing two Applications for water abstraction on this Fen and adjoining Catfield,which,if allowed to proceed, would cause irreversible damage. The Environment Agency refused the Applications because of the impact it would have on rare fen wildlife species. The Applicants appealed . After a Public Enquiry and due deliberation the Planning Inspectorate on 16th September 2016 published their Appeal Decision dismissing both Appeals and so save-guarding the future of these internationally important sites. For the full Planning Inspectorate Report search Catfield-Appeal-Decisions.pdf