George Monbiot (4 July) should be assured that Natural England retains its strong voice for nature, along with its statutory role and driving mission to protect and enhance the country’s wildlife, geology, habitats and landscapes. Our independence from government is firmly set out in the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, which gives Natural England the powers to ensure that the natural environment is conserved, enhanced and managed for the benefit of present and future generations.
Like all public bodies we have met the challenge of reduced budgets by reducing our reliance on public funding and instead increasingly working in partnership with organisations and individuals that share our commitment to the natural world – such as the Back from the Brink partnership that has helped save 20 species from the threat of extinction. Furthermore, in recent years we have made great progress in creating the world’s longest continuous coastal footpath and helped establish a “blue belt” of 50 marine conservation zones around England, with more in the pipeline. With the publication of the government’s 25-year plan for the environment, Natural England has a key role to play in delivering this ambitious agenda to leave the environment in a better state.
James Cross
Chief executive, Natural England
• Natural England is also failing in its duty to protect UK sites of European importance. In 2005, it voiced strong concerns over a road link across the River Wensum special area of conservation, one of the most important chalk streams in Europe. As a result, Norfolk county council recently opened a distributor road around north Norwich, having told the planning inspectors that a river crossing wasn’t necessary for relieving traffic. Now the council is working up the “missing link” across the river and its flood plain, assisted by a dumbed-down Natural England which hasn’t raised a squeak.
Cllr Denise Carlo
Green party, Norwich
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters
