A photo taken of the new sign in the queens park and draw your attention to the second photo down on the left of the lodges. This is clearly a stolen copyright image taken from my website
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_STF1x2d9m_o/Sqw3STqZqcI/AAAAAAAABK4/xNJCvHawwg8/s1600-h/2009_0910Image0019.JPG      you can see the small cloud on the right is identical
It was stolen from http://www.queensparkcrewe.com/2009/09/

This is not the first time the park management have stolen my photos the whole management is in total disarray. We had the problems with them committing wildlife crimes and interfering with badgers due to  their cockup. They are still refusing FOI act request for information about the badgers the only reason I can think of is they are covering up criminal acts.

Last year we had the paths done and crimes were committed against badgers and the firm buried the controls to the sluice gate under the new path which meant the lake kept flooding as it couldn't be emptied so the same firm get the contract for the waterfall and its still not working as the feed is out of the water as the pump is not getting water to cool it it can soon get ruined.

The planting by contractors has been a joke were they have planted into weeds so the new plants cant be seen for nettles and you cant mow or weed the bog garden is planted and instead of killing weeds the butter cups are not bigger than the plants. With all these things why are the jobs not  inspected after and then refused payment until its done correct you wouldn't pay at your own house if it was a mess. In February I reported 22 dangerous tree branch's and dead trees   To Elaine and George nothing has been done and health and safety should be top priority any of them falling are big enough to kill.

This isn't lack of money this is money being wasted on bad workmanship and its tax payers money that's being frittered away. One has to ask are the management fit for the job someone need to take responsibility for these cock ups    and someone should be asking why on several occasions have the council committed wildlife criminal acts one would expect their to be serious question asked about staff competence.

The same problem exist with the friends group people got roles with no vote and it was for one year until they changed the rules so they could stay in longer years later they are still there as they just vote each other in

Even if the pool was full the pipe is barley under water

A few years ago I rescued the oldest stone in Crewe which was left in Coronation walk he has now been returned to the walk

More plants have gone in at the side of the lake these were on the original plans of the restoration to improve the water and help wildlife were there are stacks around the lake it should have plants

 

 

The new stream and waterfall has failed all ready after only a few weeks. The whole design is flawed and doomed to failure. The water is pumped from the little pond by the lake it then runs down the stream back to the pond and it will loose some water by evaporation. But some goes to the base for the bog garden which is a pond all most. So which bright spark thought that one up? Over time if there is no rain the water leaking to the bog means its slowly empting the pond as it not refilled. So then the water will get low and the pump wont be able to pump water only air and may then blow the pump up as it wont be cooled by the water. This is what you get when people dont know what  they are doing. The answer is cheap drill some holes in the pond wall so the lake will keep it full as it will then be at the same level as the lake. Holes higher up the wall are needed so if there is a lot of rain water can seep into the lake above the water line. The water fall its self has no pressure and half the area is just going mouldy as its barley a trickle down stream but this may be adjustable.

A new sign erected in Coronation Walk

A massive pile of mulch appeared by the hut this week and is being spread on Burma island

 

Squirrel enjoying a sunny day

Lots of baby ducks  with one mother having 8 and another one with 4. Wildlife is coming alive at this time of the year

New Azalea bushes have been planted down Coronation walk  Not buy the park gardeners but I suspect by Micky Mouse Inc. or bodge it and scarper. Who in their right mind plant them in  the middle of weeds without first killing the weeds or digging them out? You can just about make out the small bush under the nettles and weeds soon the weeds will be bigger than the bush so you wont see them. Planted like that you cant even cut the weeds without killing the bush. They were all put in and never watered in the dry spell so they are luck to live. You have to blame Park management for passing this as ok and not getting them back to do the job properly

They have created a bog garden at the base of the water fall but not advised anyone and the amount of people who have walked on it to look at the water and sunk in the mud and ruined their shoes. The water seems to run off the water fall but there just isnt enough flow its just a dribble downstream  

The park friends report

Coronation Valley Project Report

The immediate good news is the progress concerning the Coronation Valley refurbishment. Robert Edwards from the Cheshire East Property Office, was welcomed and introduced to the group.

Robert’s report detailed delays to the work as a result of several claims of active badger sets in the valley. He re-iterated and confirmed the number of visits by both Police and environmentalists, the reports that have been presented to confirm that there is no badger activity in the project area and the costs that have been incurred as a result of the several investigations – these running to many thousands of pounds. Robert was able to confirm in great depth the detailed reports that have been presented and the fact that the CE Legal Department is satisfied that all complaints have been proved fruitless and that the valley work is legitimate and above board.

Elaine again advised the group of her contacts with Wirral Badger Association who have also confirmed as above. However, it was noted that there have been some threatening messages and the resulting delays have cost around 20% of the budget. Clearly, this will have an impact on the completion of the project and might necessitate new funding bids.

Robert told the meeting that the water course pump is now working, a timer has been fitted and the flow has been tested. Repairs to the stream bed should take 2-3 weeks, but large boulders and cobbles that were part of the original plans (available to view) might not be possible. The planting scheme (available to view) might also be affected, though there is a possibility that CEC has sourced additional funding for this. Bench alcoves along the new pathway will have to be funded at a future date, likewise the proposed bog garden.

The meeting thanked Robert for his attendance and the much appreciated information and update.

The truth

The claims are all wrong the sett has been active for over 20 years the councils own report see How Many Wildlife Crimes Have CEC Committed?

shows the sett was active members of the badger group confirmed it was active in January The jobs was then stopped as it was illegal as there was no licence from Natural England. The council then claim they put cameras down and the sett was inactive very convenient.

But there is a problem a Freedom of information request made to the council they refused to provide any evidence from the cameras so did they exist? Several people on the project stated different times that the cameras were down.

This raises questions if they were there and showed no badgers why would that be.

Being breading season they may stay underground a long time

Being frightened by the work could keep them underground or worse still they could have disturbed them which is another crime

If the cameras didn't cover the whole area they would not show up

If they didn't put any down they could say anything to move ahead with the work which would explain why they wont supply the details, they broke the law by not supplying the information in the given time which was a crafty move so the job would be finished before anyone could act on the info.

So they are wrongly saying there are no badgers but there is a twist in the tail being a badger group we have access to the greatest badger experts in the country and one came all the way from Surrey during the work and did a survey in the proper manner ie she sought permission obeyed all H& S requirements and did the induction needed. This unlike the one quoted above who broke into the site when no one was there much to the annoyance of the contractors.

She has over 20 years experience checking badger setts and she confirmed the sett was being used as there was clear evidence of activity. Her details which should be protected by the council under data protection rules were leaked and she received abuse and threats as a result.

Now that raises more questions

Were the other people who did the other surveys incompetent, negligent or paid off to give false results? As a result work then started when it shouldn't have passed the Police or Natural England if it was still in use and therefore a crime may have been committed again.

One staff member made the comment the job comes first sod the badgers and this shows the councils attitude to the matter.

At the above meeting they complain about the loss of budget and the problems trying to blame everyone else but the truth is simple they were advised many times they needed to obtain a licence for the work but ignored this and any loss is their fault through bad management if they had done the work in September when it was supposed to be done it wouldn't need a licence so no one is to blame but the management of the project the Police wouldn't have stopped the job if they had the correct licence. They also carried out work close to other setts illegally.

The project has been visited by other experts with 30 year experience in badgers and there is undisputable evidence the badgers are still there in fact the whole area you can see foot prints in the soil. There is evidence that a crude attempt to block the sett was made with sods placed on one and another seems to have been kicked to destroy it

To top it off they have now put flags down for seats right next to the sett this shows total disrespect for any wildlife by the council

 

Something has given the park fence a good bash

 

The water fall is up and running but running slow the stream I would have thought they would have actually swept it before turning it on you can see below there are weeds still in it and the water is dirt due to mud in the stream.

The whole area has been untouched for many years and in need of some care and repair

 

The paths down Coronation walk are now done we just need the stream running and planting done. The problem with the stream is getting dry weather to do it and planting will take some doing as its been neglected for years

Great display of daffs all behind the barrier it will stop kids taking them for mothers day which they often do

 

Lots of spring colour everywhere

Buzzard in the park the other day looking for dinner 

 

The council confirmed in the mail below that prior to work starting they new that there were badgers in the area and it was active.

Thank you for raising your concerns but I would like to reassure you that we share the same objective, that of protecting the biodiversity of Queens Park.

Prior to this work being undertaken the Council have undertaken an ecological impact assessment work and this has informed the methodology by which this work will be delivered. The assessment report made by an independent specialist ecological consultant engaged by the Council states:

The survey was undertaken in connection with the proposed installation of a water pumping system and the restoration of surrounding features. The site visit was completed on the 5th May 2016. It incorporated a walkover of the site and a habitat assessment and survey for Badger (Meles meles). The latter included a search for evidence of foraging activity and sett building. (The ecologist who carried out the assessment has over three years’ consultancy experience and is a member of the Chartered Institute Ecology and Environmental Management).

The site (as shown within the red line boundary on Figure 1) is public parkland, which lies within an urban landscape in the town of Crewe, East Cheshire. It is popular with dog walkers and is regularly managed, including the mowing of grass to a very short sward. There is suitable habitat at the site for foraging and sett building. A main sett comprising six well-used holes, two partially-used holes and one disused hole was found under shrub vegetation on an embankment adjacent to the eastern site boundary (as shown on Target Note 1 on  Figure 1). Fresh spoil, Badger hair and foraging activity was recorded in this area, intermingled with evidence of Rabbit and Fox. A fresh latrine was also recorded (as shown on Target Note 2 on Figure 1).

The sett will not be directly impacted or disturbed by the proposed development so long as a method statement is produced containing the appropriate mitigation measures are implemented. Therefore, a Natural England licence will not be required.

The following measures should be adhered to:

• Contractors and machinery should not encroach on to the embankment on the right site of the footpath where the sett is located;

• Digging must be done by hand in the northern section of the site up to the footbridge at the centre of the site;

• Excavated trenches should be covered if left overnight or an escape ladder should be installed to prevent entrapment of Badgers or other local wildlife;

• Piles of spoil should be stored on pallets off the ground or should be covered if left overnight and these should be stored away from the sett; and

• Contractors will be briefed on the presence of Badgers prior to commencing site works.

Our appointed contractors have taken these guidance measures into consideration in designing the works and the operational staff on the ground have been fully briefed on the importance of working carefully and in accordance with the guidance..

I trust this will allay your concerns and reassure you that the Council does take the protection of our biodiversity very seriously.

Kind regards

George

George Broughton

Park Development Manager | Waste and Environmental Commissioning Team | Cheshire East Council, Municipal Building, Earle Street, Crewe. CW1 2BJ
(01270 (6) 86054        * george.broughton@cheshireeast.gov.uk

 

They then started work in the breading season without a licence as required by law and confirmed by

Natural England

I have checked our data, and cannot find an application/licence for the mentioned post code.

Please contact the local wildlife police on 101, and inform them of these details

Regards

Jayran

Species Management Advisor

Natural England

Technical Services

Wildlife Licensing

Tel. No: 020802 61089

www.gov.uk/natural-england

The Police arrived and found them working to me they are banged to rights committing a wildlife crime.

They then claim they used cameras on the site and the badgers are all gone. A freedom of information act request to produce evidence was not supplied and they broke the law on this count as well. The fact badgers have gone would suggest the illegal work has disturbed the badgers crime number two.

They then carried out work near other setts during the breading season with no licence or consideration so they made the hat trick

 

You can see how heavy the machinery must have been to smash the path this would be enough to disturb the badgers as it was feet away

The path has now been all but finished only requiring tarmac on top what are the bets the FOI request will come when the path is done when its to late to stop the work so they failed to comply with the act to cover up a criime?

A new seat on Burma island from the Tesco bags fund

The day the storm struck

The day the wind blew and trees were dropping like flies and the park was closed for safety reasons.  A lot is down to no maintenance as pointed out in other posted weeks ago I told them of over 22 deadly dead branch's that can potentially kill  and no attempt has been made to make it safe so if someone gets hurt from falling branch's the council are liable 

 

Still problems with the council not obeying the correct procedure when dealing with badgers and therefore committing a criminal wildlife crime and the Police stopped the work  first of all no work can be done at this time of years its written in stone

4.  Work near active badger setts must be carried out between July and November inclusive, to avoid the disturbance of breeding female badgers.

in breach of this and still committing wildlife crime in the area as large amounts of concrete from the water fall have been moved past the sett on the path 2 ft away the only way this could have been done is by the use of heavy machinery ie tipper or digger  in breach of

8.  Disturbances, such as loud noise or vibrations, that might agitate badgers occupying a sett must be avoided or limited to areas well away from the sett.  This may force badgers to stay underground due to the noise and vibration.

We believe the work is in breach of Offences (Section 3 of the Act) Protection of Badgers Act 1992.

You have failed  section 3 by not informing the parks badger group  who have expressed concerns over this matter which you have ignored .

They are now trying to say they aren't there but this just shows the advisor has no knowledge of badgers

Badgers do not hibernate but they often stay below ground for long periods in winter, especially during very cold or wet weather.

Badgers mate throughout the year but pregnancy starts around the end of November or early December when the previously fertilised embryos implant into the sow’s uterus. Often only the most dominant sow in a family group will produce cubs, usually two or three per litter. These are born underground, usually towards the end of January or beginning of February, emerging for the first time after about eight weeks .

Is it safe to go into the park?

Take a look at these trees with dead branch's inside and out side of the park given high winds if these fall they are big enough to kill the wind has blown over all the barriers see below. These have been reported but no action has been taken to ensure public safety the whole area has lots of these and must be considered dangerous

 

 

Try to do the work in Coronation walk has been stopped in part by the fact they need to empty the small pond to put the pump in. The lake is so flooded they cant empty it the problem being the sluice gates to empty the lake was buried under the new paths last year so now they have had to dig up the new path to find it. How do you manage to cover a big grid with a new path? the sluice at the Tipkinder end is blocked by lots of rubbish which wouldn't be a problem if they installed a simple net to stop it falling in

Some work has continued on Coronation walk after police stopped the work as they didn't have the correct licence. The pipe for the waterfall is half in from the lake to the bridge is in and covered the pipe is in the other side but not yet covered the weather hasn't help.

To fit the pump means draining the little pool which they tried to do last week then the floods came and filled it you cant even see the wall.

 

The lake is the highest its ever been never seen the boating jetty covered in water in the last 10 years

 

Water is flowing in at a terrific rate the problem is the sluice gate to empty the lake cant be opened as the controls got buried under the path when the new paths were put in. I cant believe in  this day and age with geo fiz etc the cant find the controls

Its been reported over the last few weeks the dangerous state of some trees on the perimeter of the park I counted at least 22 dead branch's that could cause serious injury if they fall  this week a tree fell but luck it fell into the park so no one was hurt on the public path

The lake is once again flooding due to blocked sluice gate and heavy rain

Work on Coronation walk has got under way with a 1/4 of the park blocked off for the work the path was the first thing to go  and then a trench dug to take the pipe for the waterfall from the lake to the top of the fall

 

The trench is deep and goes a long way the council have not carried out the work to its own standards as left exposed wildlife can fall in and not get out.

The council own procedure have not been followed which are

Excavated trenches should be covered if left overnight or an escape ladder should be installed to prevent entrapment of  local wildlife;

• Piles of spoil should be stored on pallets off the ground or should be covered if left overnight and these should be stored away from the area

The Police attended the park on Wednesday to stop work as the council require a licence from Natural England that they failed to obtain which means its once again they committed a criminal wildlife crime. They carried out a survey which they claimed was done in September but was in fact done last May. Such a survey is a snapshot in time and useless a year later as anything could have happened in the mean time. They were advised by the wildlife group that they need a licence from Natural England after last year were they nearly killed wildlife in the park  but ignored the advice. As for a lot of wildlife its now breeding season extra precautions need to be taken to protect wildlife Natural England wanted the Police called as its an offence not to have a license from them. Given the problems last year why they didn't get a license seems stupid a quick call the them could have clarified the situations and the law could have been obeyed.  

A robin enjoying the sun

Squirrel out for dinner