Letter: Kielder lynx plan rejected

Sir,

 

I was not surprised to read that despite numerous attempts by the Campbeltown Courier to contact Dr Paul O'Donoghue, he was unavailable.

 

This is consistent with his approach to Natural England which recommended to Michael Gove that he refuse the application by Dr O'Donoghue to re-introduce the lynx to Kielder Forest in Northumberland.

 

In its advice to the secretary of state, Natural England concluded: 'Despite requests for further information and explanation of the need for evidence to underpin various aspects of the proposal, the applicant has not provided the necessary detail...

 

'The application fails to give confidence that the project could be completed in practical terms or that the outputs would meet the stated aims.

 

'As a result the proposal lacks the necessary depth and rigour to provide confidence it would succeed...

 

'A significant amount of further work would be required to bring this application up to the standard that could be considered for a licence of this nature.'

 

The application was turned down by Michael Gove on December 4 2018.

 

It might be useful, for those attending the meeting in Tarbert, to ask Dr O'Donoghue why he is not pursuing the Kielder Forest application and why he thinks Kintyre would be a suitable alternative.

 

David Byford, High Pluck, Saddell.