Dense and Scattered Scrub
Nature Conservation Value and Conservation Status
206. Dense and scattered scrub is a priority habitat on the East Lothian LBAP. Within the ecology study area, scrub vegetation is mostly dense and scattered gorse with some blackthorn and hawthorn recorded along the Braidwood Burn corridor. Approximately 16.38 ha of this habitat was recorded within the Proposed Development.
Construction phase
Impact
207. Impacts on the scrub habitat will include a direct loss where it lies under the footprint of temporary and permanent works as well as temporary disturbance of vegetation adjacent to works areas.
Magnitude of Impact
208. As shown on Figure A7.4 and Figure A1 scrub habitat lies under the footprint of a proposed temporary access road that runs parallel to the northern edge of Braidwood Burn woodland corridor and also under the temporary and permanent works area for the proposed cable bridge crossing over the Braidwood Burn. The total footprint for both works is 0.37 ha which represents 2.26 % of the total area of this habitat recorded within the ecology study area.
209. The impact is predicted to be of local spatial extent, short-term duration, intermittent and medium reversibility. It is predicted that the impact will affect the receptor directly. The magnitude is therefore considered to be low.
Sensitivity of the Receptor
210. The scrub habitat is deemed to be of low vulnerability, medium recoverability and local value. The sensitivity of the receptor is therefore considered to be low.
Significance of the Effect
211. Given the above consideration of sensitivity and magnitude, the effect significance is considered to be negligible to minor adverse and not significant under the EIA Regulations.
Secondary Mitigation and Residual Effect
212. No secondary mitigation is considered necessary because the likely effect in the absence of secondary mitigation is not significant in EIA terms.