Newts in the Black Country

The discovery of Great Crested Newts in a pond in Staffordshire posed ecological challenges for May Gurney Utility Services earlier this summer.

The newts were discovered as May Gurney was about to commence water mains rehabilitation works in the small Staffordshire village of Hanbury, near Lichfield.

May Gurney's Environmental Officer, Dave Watkinson, worked in partnership with South Staffordshire Water's Environmental Officer, Steve Blower, to agree a course of action. "As Steve had recent experience of dealing with newts, he offered to monitor the site and thus avoid the need to bring in an expensive outside expert," Chris Butler added.

A method statement was drawn up and submitted to South Staffordshire Water. It was agreed that work would have to wait until after the breeding season (May - June), and that there would be no excavation within a 50-metre radius, and no site traffic within five metres of the pond.

As a result of this careful planning, the work was completed without incident and to the satisfaction of English Nature.