A Wildlife crime officer has been assigned to make enquiries after the police reported that badger setts had been found on a site south of Sandhole Lane, in the area which is scheduled to build 67 new homes.
The planning inspectorate, which allowed the development to go ahead on appeal, had previously said that they found “no evidence” of badger setts. Following reports to the local police, a wildlife crime officer has been sent to the site in question to make enquiries.
A statement from the police says, “While there is no confirmed damage to the setts at this time by the reporting party, a wildlife crime trained officer is being assigned to make some initial enquiries.”
The badger setts were discussed at the recent full town council meeting, with Cllr Gordon King saying, “Since the application for 67 dwellings at land south of Sandhole Lane received approval at appeal, the site has actually become infested with badger setts.
“Badgers are a protected species under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and you cannot disturb a badger sett without in place a proper mitigation strategy and/or a licence provided by Natural England. I immediately informed the animal welfare section of Wiltshire Council, I also emailed Natural England and I also emailed the rural policing team.
“The rural policing team have actually issued a neighbourhood alert system on the 1st March, warning the developer that no action should be taken to disturb the badger setts.”
White Horse News had previously contacted Wiltshire Council for comment on photographs showing badger setts on the site, which were submitted by local people. Cllr Nick Botterill, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for development management and strategic planning said, “We refused planning application 20/11515/OUT on 23 March 2021, but it was subsequently allowed on appeal. The planning inspector did consider ecology matters and badger presence. In paragraph 53 he confirmed that “No evidence was found on the site of Great Crested Newts, dormouse, or badger setts. I have no substantive basis to dispute these findings or that the survey work undertaken was inadequate”.
Natural England say that the developer must comply with the legal protection of badgers and that developers should take appropriate measures to avoid, mitigate and, as a last resort, compensate for any negative effects on badgers.
The developer may need to apply for a wildlife licence before they start work if they exclude a badger from a sett, disturb a badger, or damage or remove a sett.
The controversial planning application of 67 dwellings at the greenfield site was heavily opposed by town councillors and the local MP, Dr Andrew Murrison. A Facebook group called, ‘Say No to Sandhole Lane Housing Development’ was also been set up by local resident, Ben Gordon, who initially found the badger setts at land south of Sandhole Lane.
