Housing developer Barratt has apologised for barrier fencing which was put up at a Nantwich site, impeding a popular riverside walk.
Walkers complained after the high metal fencing was erected around the site off Queens Drive, Nantwich.
One local councillor said people had tripped over and warned it could cause injuries.
Now Barratt, the first developer on the controversial Malbank Waters 270-home site, said the fencing was necessary to help catch Great Crested Newts on the site.
A spokesperson from Barratt Developments said: “The fence location has been determined by our ecologist following consultation with Natural England.
“It forms part of our works to trap Great Crested Newts as per current legislation and safely translocate them off-site.
“We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused recently and we intend to provide a clear route along the footpaths as soon as our ecologist advises we are able to do so without harming the newts.”
Nantwich Town Cllr Arthur Moran, who lives on Queens Drive, said last week: “The Riverside Loop is very popular and that footpath must be open and not impeded.
“If it is being obstructed and the fencing is too close I shall be taking this up with Cheshire East and developers.”
Weaselly words from a property developer, how surprising.
The Council should act immediately to make them move the fences. If they are concerned that the newt fence should be inside the barrier, then they should move that as well. Another metre in will make no difference to the ecological assessment.
Move it now!
From the photograph published here it’s fairly clear that amphibian exclusion fencing (the low green plastic sheeting on short posts) is not the cause of the partial obstruction of the Nantwich Loop footpath. Instead, the high metal ‘Heras’ site security fence is supported by large ‘feet’, at right angles to the direction of the fence, and these appear to be the problem. It is therefore misleading to imply that environmental legislation, Natural England and the consultant ecologists are to blame for causing problems for local walkers and Barratt Homes should not attempt to pass the buck in this way.
Incidentally, the photo also appears to show partially collapsed sections of newt fencing – not very effective.