YOUR front page report concerning the resurfacing of the M65 - which would have the additional consequence of benefiting barn owls - made interesting reading.

Barn owls as wild breeding birds are a threatened species, due to loss of habitat.

However, I feel that it is only fair to issue a cautionary warning to local landowner John Leitherd.

That is that, whilst it is important to establish biological heritage sites - such as Castle Clough at Hapton - it would be quite erroneous to put too much faith in them, or to believe that their protected status will always be respected - even by the local authorities who register them.

For example, within the last 18 months, Blackburn with Darwen Council has allowed a large warehouse unit to be built on Greenbank Biological Heritage Site (Local Wildlife Site), on the edge of Lower Darwen.

A CULVERHOUSE, Cavendish Street, Darwen. YOUR front page report concerning the resurfacing of the M65 - which would have the additional consequence of benefiting barn owls - made interesting reading.

Barn owls as wild breeding birds are a threatened species, due to loss of habitat.

However, I feel that it is only fair to issue a cautionary warning to local landowner John Leitherd.

That is that, whilst it is important to establish biological heritage sites - such as Castle Clough at Hapton - it would be quite erroneous to put too much faith in them, or to believe that their protected status will always be respected - even by the local authorities who register them.

For example, within the last 18 months, Blackburn with Darwen Council has allowed a large warehouse unit to be built on Greenbank Biological Heritage Site (Local Wildlife Site), on the edge of Lower Darwen.

A CULVERHOUSE, Cavendish Street, Darwen.

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