As Natural England continues to push back publication of its wildlife licensing data, the patience of the public is wearing thin....
After delaying publication of the wildlife licensing data for a full two months (it was due in March), Natural England suddenly decided that some 'tweaks' were needed before the data could be published. This in spite of the fact that on 16th April they told me that "We have all the data and an explanatory blog ready to go". With regard to those mysterious 'tweaks', David Slater, Natural England's Head of National Operations, told me on 13th May that "There was a bit of a pipeline of communications to be published this month and ours in the queue. I was also not happy with how some of the data was presented, so have asked for some tweaks..." All I know is that the data is now nearly three months late and people are really running out of patience. Mr Slater added "So I’m afraid it wont be going live until at least next week." Well guess what - 'next week' came and went..... 21st May: And another excuse.... Relentlessly I chased up the data yet again; and with diminishing hope of it appearing any time soon, I asked Natural England for a statement to pass on to you all. Here is the response: "It's been an extremely busy month for government comms. The pre-election period has created a backlog and we have been asking for a slot for the last few weeks. The earliest slot I have been able to get is 10th June would you believe." Would I believe??? Well, I won't comment on that further than to say if it's 10th June then so be it. That said, cynic that I am, earlier this month I submitted a freedom of information request to obtain the complete data, just in case it wasn't forthcoming from Natural England.... I should have the results of that request within a similar time frame to the proposed official release of the stats, so let's see which arrives first, the FOI results or Natural England's publication.....place your bets.... Of course I will let you all know when either is available and I'll begin the task of sifting through the figures. Meanwhile thanks for your continued support. We've come this far, we're not giving in, of course we're not! This is for the birds, for wildlife in the UK. Indeed now it is a matter of principle too. We should be able to rely on government advisers to do the job they are tasked with and paid to do, but as I believe we have shown many times, they cannot be trusted to look after nature on our behalf without our careful monitoring and intervention. And so the campaign continues. Here again is the petition: please continue to share far and wide: Link to Petition
13 Comments
Caroline Cass
22/5/2021 07:59:00 pm
Can’t believe all the delaying and messing about. Glad you’re on top of it. Terrible state of things when our beautiful wildlife is “culled” when it’s on red lists. How can these people justify their existence........????!!!!!
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IAN SHERFIELD SHERFIELD
22/5/2021 08:09:59 pm
Jason,
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Sian
22/5/2021 08:30:24 pm
Hats off to you Jason for your patience and diligence in trying to hold (un)natural England to account
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Stephen cox
22/5/2021 08:50:58 pm
I think that Natural England are I hope realising thier mistakes and not publishing the data that's needed
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Constance Hawkins
22/5/2021 08:59:24 pm
They do this delay as a tactic to weaken your resolve. It happens in all bureaucratic fields.
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Tim Burke
22/5/2021 09:39:40 pm
Only 3 months late? Bearing in mind that Natural England report to DEFRA, a government department, then 12 months, 24 months, perhaps never is about par for the course.
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trev
22/5/2021 10:22:24 pm
They're delaying because they know they've been rumbled and they haven't got a leg to stand on. I wonder if the Green party would take an interest in taking this further? They should do. Ought to be questions in the House.
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Sheila Dorsett
23/5/2021 10:31:34 am
Great persistence Jason. Now Natural England are getting a 47% increase in their budget we may see some results for our wildlife. I live in hope.
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BoB Howson
23/5/2021 01:34:00 pm
If only you were top man at Natural England. Thank you for all you do.
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william neal
23/5/2021 04:09:09 pm
what do expect from a quango, they are only looking after their jobs (?) aka BBC, English Heritage and many others
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Dave Collins
23/5/2021 06:28:30 pm
These people are not focusing on the job in hand or have been told to delay release,probably down to politicians propping up the bar 😤
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shirley mills
25/5/2021 12:51:10 pm
Fantastic work Jason, we need more people like you holding these people to account on the nations behalf.
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Nick
26/5/2021 11:31:44 am
UnNatural England are trying to keep their appalling record hidden from us under the smokescreen of comms being busy, but they can find time to deliver positive news when they want:
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