Residents fear protected creatures have been “slaughtered” on land owned by Bath and North East Somerset Council – weeks after it declared an ecological emergency.
The site being mowed and one of slow worms | Photos courtesy of Englishcombe Lane residents
Its plans to build 37 homes in an Englishcombe Lane field were approved last month against the advice of the authority’s own ecologist.
Promises were made to move the tufa springs, a rare habitat of county-level importance, to a separate site.
It was claimed the scheme would boost biodiversity – but residents say they recently witnessed the overgrown field being mowed, and fear this killed numerous slow worms, a protected species of lizard.
The council has said it is investigating the incident, which has also been reported to the police, after photos were posted online this week by Iona Gorrie showing severed bodies of slow worms.
She said on Facebook there had been an “enormous tractor with a huge plough” that had “slaughtered most if not all of the slow worms” that had been caught in traps intended to move them to safety.
Danny Groves, who spoke out against the development, said: “The council’s ecologist categorically objected and they completely ignored her.
“It was the first test of the ecological emergency and they went against it. If you aren’t committed, don’t say it. They were prepared to sacrifice their morals.
“This isn’t just a field – tufas are so rare many councils ringfence them. There’s no evidence moving them will work.”
Ahead of last month’s planning committee meeting, councillors were told that tufa flushes, a rare geological phenomenon, are a vulnerable and increasingly rare habitat, formed from springwater passing through limestone.
Those present in Englishcombe Lane are of county-level importance, home to numerous species.
The housing plans proposed creating new tufa springs in Pennyquick Lane by controlling the water flow from a stream.
Councillors were told the council’s ecologist was not certain the habitats could be recreated but a university professor was “comfortable the strategy should work”.
Former councillor Bob Goodman was the cabinet member for planning when the proposals for Englishcombe Lane were first submitted and said he had expressed concern at the time.
“When I heard it had been approved I was absolutely shocked,” he said.
“It’s outrageous what’s happening. There needs to be an independent investigation.
“What’s the point declaring an ecological emergency? They’re paying lip service and doing the complete opposite.”
Moorlands ward councillor Jess David, who proposed the ecological emergency and opposed the development, said she was horrified by the latest developments.
She said: “Residents have been working really hard to protect this field. The council is investigating – it has to take steps to protect the wildlife. Council leader Dine Romero has spoken to residents.”
Cllr David said the ecological emergency declaration was made publicly so the council could be held to account, and now it is rightly being scrutinised, but added that it will take time be included in planning policy.
A spokesperson for B&NES Council said no developer had been officially appointed for the site but it was likely to be the authority’s development company, Aequus, which had commissioned some preliminary ecological works including trapping reptiles.
“We would expect all developers to abide by the rules and the council will take appropriate action where they don’t,” the spokesperson said.
“There is a specialist ecologist closely monitoring the site. Under guidance from the ecologist, specialist reptile fencing has been put up to allow the slow worms to be moved to a safe habitat on the site in order to hibernate.
“We are aware of the concerns raised on social media about the protection of wildlife and we are investigating the specific issues raised.
“We are committed to the council’s declared ecological emergency, and to ensuring the highest possible standards of wildlife protection.”
An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson said officers had been liaising with the council.
Stephen Sumner, Local Democracy Reporter
