Protesters claim wildlife haven under threat from drainage work at housing development

PROTESTERS gathered at a building site on the outskirts of Newton Abbot last week as the battle continued to save an important wildlife refuge.

- by GUY HENDERSON

Officers from Teignbridge District Council have stepped in to call a halt to the work amid claims developer Vistry Homes has gone beyond the limits of the permission it has been granted.

The row centres on a large drainage pond being excavated in Stray Park Meadow by builders working on the latest stage of the huge NA3 development at Wolborough.

Campaigners fear the work will cause irreparable damage to Wolborough Fen, which is an official Site of Special Scientific Interest and home to a number of rare plants.

The council had advised the developer to stop work on some parts of the site until the wrangle was resolved. However, an email from planning officers to councillors - seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service - says work to create drainage ponds which currently fall outside approved areas had continued, including the work in Stray Park Meadow.

An enforcement officer has been to the site and a decision taken to issue a temporary stop notice.