Dog walkers worried work in park is harming wildlife (From Echo)

Dog walkers worried work is harming wildlife in Gunners Park

3:10pm Thursday 30th September 2010 in News By Jasmin McDermott

WILDLIFE and its habitats are being destroyed by a new flood defence barrier being built next to a Shoebury nature reserve, it has been claimed.

As part of development work at Shoebury Garrison, which has seen new homes built on the former military site over the past five years, Gunners Park is undergoing landscaping.

The work has included restoring and repairing seawall defences, as well as building a new children’s play area last year.

However, residents who live near the park have voiced concerns about the number of trees and shrubs being chopped down, as well as the damage this is having on wildlife.

Shelia Rickards, of Leitrim Avenue, Shoebury, said: “It was such a pretty and natural park and was home to so many different types of wildlife, including a rare and beautiful albino badger.

“My husband and I have fed the badgers for about 25 years and it is a privilege to see them in the wild.

“I don’t feel the council has given us enough time for our objections to be heard properly about this.

“It is really upsetting to see the park has been turned into a muddy mess of holes everywhere.

“I am really concerned most of the wildlife will not want to come back here because of all the machinery and the destruction.

“Myself and my husband walk our dog in the park every day and it has been gradually getting worse and worse.

“I know the council has said that the badgers will be rehomed, but this will be in a public place that is not secluded.”

Work started on Monday by council contractors to build the seawall defence, which will run from the corner of Barge Pier Road to the coastguard hut, which is just outside the nature reserve.

Michael Assenheim, independent ward councillor for Shoebury, said: “The work is a necessity and part of the 100-year defence barrier.

“Any animals that have to be moved while the work is going on will be put back to where they were originally, and then the vegetation will be able to grow around it.

“Where the seawall is being placed is actually part of the old Gunners Park, and it is not linked to the park there at the moment.”