Don’t ‘Victimise’ the Newts – We Need Nature!

Crested Newts are not to blame for house building delays and they deserve our protection, say countryside campaigners.

This week the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson blamed ‘newt-counting delays in our system’ for ‘a massive drag on the productivity.’

His words were reminiscent of a speech made in the House of Lords by Mayfield Market Towns Director, Lord Jamie Borwick, who wants to build 7,000 new homes in Horsham district, near Henfield.
However, CPRE Sussex Director, Kia Trainor says the newts are being unfairly used as a scapegoat for delays, and that we need Nature now, more than ever before.

Issued 2 July 2020