WILTSHIRE Council has come under fire for felling trees during bird nesting season.
Local wildlife campaigner, Sue Tweedie, says that she was “seething” last week, after witnessing council contractors felling trees on Western Way – between the Spa roundabout and the roundabout connecting the A365 with the A350 – which she says, if necessary, should be a job done in winter.
But Wiltshire Council has said that the trees were checked for bird nests before felling, and that the trees had to be removed as they were blocking a draining ditch, which was causing water to flood the road, creating a “significant hazard” to drivers.
“It’s bird nesting and the bottom line is, they shouldn’t be doing anything,” said Sue talking to Melksham News.
“Although they [Wiltshire Council] say that they have done a survey that says there aren’t any bird nests in the trees being felled, any birds nesting in neighbouring trees or hedges will abandon their chicks because of the noise.
“This just makes me seethe – this is a winter job, not a spring/summer job. Even the contractors were confused about why they were doing it at this time of year.”
Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for transport, cllr Dr Mark McClelland, told Melksham News, “The trees on Western Way were felled because they were blocking a drainage ditch, that has become silted causing water to back up and flooding the carriageway.
“Further works are now scheduled to clear the ditch and future flooding, which presents a significant hazard to road users.
“Where we undertake tree felling during the nesting season a full survey of the trees is carried out first to identify if there are nesting birds present. If any nests are found the works are postponed.”
