FURY has been sparked after dozens of trees at a Thundersley wildlife haven were hacked down to make way for 150 homes.

Preliminary work has begun on the construction of the new homes on land between Kiln Road and Wensley Road after Castle Point Council granted planning permission for the development last August.

Concerns have been raised for the safety of local wildlife after scores of trees were felled last week.

The 13-acre site is known to be home to five badger sets and a variety of lizards and slow worms.
 

Geoff Robinson, of Hackamore, Thundersley, whose home backs onto the site, said: “They’ve completely decimated the site in the space of two weeks or so. Its gone from being a natural, ancient woodland to being a big open space.

“It’s quite a shock to the system. There are a lot of invertebrates living there like lizards and snakes as well as badgers which come into our garden, so it is a worry. The animals have been here a lot longer than we have so it is a real shame.”

Campaigners had been fighting to save the site from redevelopment for over 30 years.

The wildlife area was protected by green belt status until the late Nineties when it was reclassified.

Castle Point councillors were forced to pass the controversial plans after two votes, because there were no planning grounds on which it could be refused.

A spokeswoman from the authority said it was alerted to concerns from residents but that nothing untoward was being carried out.

Developer David Wilson Homes, who is building the homes, said that ecologists are being kept on site alongside contractors to ensure the work was not detrimental to local wildlife.

A spokesperson for David Wilson Homes Eastern said: “In accordance with our planning agreement, we are currently carrying out ecology and preparatory works in readiness for the main construction of our new homes to begin.

“We would like to assure local residents that we are taking wildlife and ecology issues very seriously. As part of the ecology management plan, we currently have two full-time ecologists on the site, working alongside our construction staff.

“Their role is to monitor and advise our staff, ensuring the work we carry out cause’s minimal disruption to the ecology of the site and that specific areas are safely protected from the construction work taking place.”

The development is expected to finish within the next two to three years.