UK about to scrap environmental regulations?

[auroraglacialis]

Environmental campaigners angry as green laws labelled as red tape | Environment | The Guardian

Seems like the UK is about to revisit environmental laws (among others) and check if they can be kept up or if they "restrict business". It seems that there will be a poll and ministers will see what people think of the various laws, it is several thousands, so I seriously doubt that all UK citizens will have the time to read them all and form a proper opinion on them. But the tendency seems to be that economy has to be strenghtened and laws that go against this (like environmental laws) may be scrapped to prevent economic stagnation. This is what happens when environment and nature are seen as a luxury and not as essential, when economy and human desires for wealth and growth are put before the needs of the natural world that keeps us all alive and healthy.

Environmental campaigners have condemned the coalition's inclusion of all of Britain's 278 environmental laws in a list of "red tape" regulations considered by the public for the axe.
...
The Wildlife and Countryside Act, National Park Act, Clean Air Act and the Climate Change Act are among the packages of environmental safeguards included in the "red tape challenge" – a crowdsourcing exercise launched by the government to establish which regulations restrict business in the UK.

[Human No More]

It's extremely unlikely anything will happen - just look at the reaction when the government attempted to sell publicly owned forest to save money. This doesn't mean that they will be removed without any replacement - it is simply a consultation asking people which they think are overcomplicated (not restrictive) as part of costcutting measures. So it's only if a significant number of people view it as such that it might be challenged - it's not a vote to repeal it. Certainly, it's a bit over the top with the number though.

[auroraglacialis]

Yeah, I hope the right people will make the right participations in these polls and they can keep them. That emphasis on business and economy ("...establish which regulations restrict business...") sounds a bit scary though. I dont know much on UK laws and regulations, but I hope those in the UK will do their part to keep the protection up, even if that "restricts business" a bit - better to still have a land that is worth living in for the next generation thatn to look for short term profits.