27/7/2006 - Ecologists adopt warm-hearted approach to cold-blooded dwellers

New homes are to be found for a population of slow worms and common lizards living on an area of derelict land which will soon be transformed into a major economic development in Barrow's port area.

An ecologist has been appointed to oversee the erection of 2 km of reptile-proof fencing at the site of the new Waterfront business park from next week. The fencing is one-metre high and contains refuges and traps to contain the animals. The bottom 15cm is embedded into the ground so the slow worms and lizards cannot slither back onto the site once they have been relocated onto adjacent land. 

Temporary fencing will also be erected from the beginning of August to protect the reptile-proof fencing.

The work is being carried out on part of the 31.37 hectares of land that Cumbria County Council bought from Associated British Ports in March 2006. The land will be transformed into the new £18m Waterfront Business Park, funded by West Lakes Renaissance/Northwest Regional Development Agency. Alfred McAlpine has been appointed as the contractor to work on the preparation of the site over the next five months.

It is part of a major development of Barrow's port area which will include a new £9m marina link to Walney Channel, a new £9m cruise terminal and the creation of a new marina area, including new housing. A partnership incorporating Cumbria County Council, Barrow Borough Council, West Lakes Renaissance and the Northwest Regional Development Agency is managing the scheme. 

"Construction work won't begin on the site until early next year, but this is the first step in a massive redevelopment of Barrow's port area. Every measure is being taken to minimise the environmental impact of the project, which will help transform the economic fortunes of the area," said Councillor Timothy Heslop, cabinet member responsible for economic development.

Tony Marshall, a Capita-appointed ecologist, has been working closely with English Nature on the project. He said: "This is the first step in ensuring the business park takes care of the area's existing residents. The slow worms and common lizards will be able to live on the surrounding land - away from the heavy machinery which will be working on the site next year."

Notes for Editors

1. When complete, the Waterfront business park is expected to create 1,000 new jobs and add another 500,000 sq ft of industrial and commercial space to the Barrow area.

2. Attached are 2 jpeg pictures - Waterfront1 shows an aerial view of how the business park will look superimposed over the existing site. Waterfront2 shows the whole of the port development - the business park is the purple shaded area, the cruise terminal and marina link are in yellow and blue on the left. To the right in orange is the water sports spectator area and on the far right in pink is the marina village.