Wiltshire Council has issued a statement about tree felling in Warminster after a protest by about 30 residents last Saturday, February 22, at Bath Road.
The Sustainable Warminster Environmental Community group claimed felling about 40 trees destroyed rooks nests and would foraging for a nearby bat colony.
Cllr Toby Sturgis, Cabinet Member for Spatial Planning, Development Management and Investment, said: “We have taken a considered and cautionary approach to protecting and enhancing wildlife in relation to the removal of these trees. If the planning application is approved, the proposed layout of the redeveloped site would include replacement trees and additional planting and will provide ecological enhancement that benefits biodiversity.”
The council advised that planning permission was not required for tree felling outside a conservation area, and no tree preservation orders were in place for any of the trees.
The council’s senior ecologist had visited the site and reviewed the pre-application and full planning application documents, and advised that tree felling before the bird nesting season was a suitable precautionary measure to prevent accidental damage or harm to nesting birds.
“We have taken a precautionary approach by stripping ivy from the trees prior to felling to enable any potential bat roosting or bird nesting features to be found and checked. We have also conducted a visual search from ground level for signs of birds building nests and none have been identified. This has been under the supervision of an ecological Clerk of Works supplied by an environmental planning consultancy company.
“The planning application contains a planting plan to mitigate for the loss of trees, and an ecological survey report for the site. The application is currently being considered.