According to the Bill, the time period from notification of the proposal to the actual designation of the site as an NHA will be six months. During this time, the proposed NHA will have no legal protection. We are all aware of the damaging activities currently occurring on pSACs. Many of the damaged portions of pSACs will be removed from the SAC as a direct consequence of the damage. We welcome and applaud the actions that the Minister has taken regarding damage to SACs.
Similar protection is required for NHAs, even to avoid confusion.
If this protection is not provided for pNHAs a situation may be reached where an individual could cite confusion of the two designations as a defence for damaging his site. This could also result in damage to European sites . This inconsistency is bound to lead to confusion for landowners and rangers and is set to endanger both SACs and NHAs. It may offer an incentive for someone opposed to a possible NHA designation to destroy the scientific interest on the site. Indeed, we do not accept that the level of protection as proposed for pNHAs will offer meaningful protection.