THE Great Crested Newt has received widespread media coverage in recent weeks. It has been held responsible for halting house re-builds, preventing development of schools and bringing filming of the latest Bond film to a standstill. What on earth – or in this case, what in the water – is going on?

According to some, it is of course all down to Brussels. The EU Habitats Directive has apparently insisted that no construction can possibly take place anywhere unless ponds and puddles are first examined for possible newt activity.

In fact the newt has been protected under UK law via the Wildlife and Countryside Act well before the EU Directive was even drafted. What the EU law has indirectly done in the UK is enable another protected species to breed, namely the Great British Bureaucrat. In order to be allowed to undertake any works in the UK that could disturb possible habitats of any Great Crested Newt, the Government has uniquely decided you need to apply for a Great Crested Newt Licence.

For this purpose you need to produce an application form (2 copies) detailing your “newt experience”, supported by two referees, one of whom must have held a Great Crested Newt Licence for at least three years.

You need a Method Statement (2 copies) showing how your activities will conform to the Mitigation Guidelines (77 pages). You need a Reasoned Statement describing the legal basis for the application. Finally you need a Local Planning Authority Consultation Document, supported by a separate Declaration signed by a Planning Officer.

Wolves are being protected in Spain and bears in France, also under the EU Habitats Directive. But neither country requires so much bureaucracy to deliver such protection. It would be good to see more habitats for newts – but in exchange for less protection for Great British Bureaucrats.

MEP PHILIP BUSHILL-MATTHEWS,Conservative Leader in the European Parliament