CONCERNS have been raised that hedging nets designed to prevent birds from nesting at the site of a Chester housing development are not being pegged down properly.

It is feared this could lead to birds and animals becoming trapped at Redrow and Taylor Wimpey’s land at Wrexham Road.

But the companies have stressed that the work is carried out by specialist contractors who make regular checks.

Chester and District Standard:

Nets are used because it is an offence under UK law to disturb any nesting birds once they have set up home.

The two companies need to remove a number of hedgerows before work starts on building 1,269 homes on the site – and they are keen to avoid being delayed by a whole nesting season.

The Standard reported a fortnight ago that Redrow and Taylor Wimpey had come under fire for using the nets.

On Sunday, a resident sent us new photos of netting at the site that was unsecured and open at one end.

And yesterday environmental campaigner Andy Scargill took similar photos.

He said: “The netting of mature, natural hedgerows is, in my opinion, ecologically and environmentally totally wrong.

“This controversial practice is more about allowing developers to grub out hedges and fell trees quickly rather than wait until the nesting season is over, in other words it’s about money.”

Chester and District Standard:

In response, Paul Sinclair, technical director for Redrow Homes (NW), said: “The common practice of netting hedgerows has been deployed by our specialist contractor and regular inspections are being carried out by a qualified ecologist to ensure it is both fit for purpose and that no birds or other wildlife become trapped.

“This is a temporary measure and we are preparing to remove the netting imminently ahead of development works.”

A spokesperson for Taylor Wimpey North West added: “The Wrexham Road development is being progressed with the assistance of a qualified ecologist. The hedgerows have been netted by our specialist contractor and inspections are being carried out.”

The issue of netting hedges has sparked a national response with TV presenter and wildlife expert Chris Packham saying it showed “brutal ignorance” of how to look after the countryside.

Chester and District Standard:

An official petition entitled ‘Make netting hedgerows to prevent birds from nesting a criminal offence’ has so far attracted almost 200,000 signatures.

The RSPB has urged people to sign and has started a campaign for new laws aimed at ensuring practices like netting come under greater scrutiny.

A spokesman said: “We cannot keep trying to squeeze nature into smaller and smaller spaces or demanding it fits in with our plans.

“People around the country are dismayed to hear about cases where birds returning from long journeys are being deliberately excluded from sites where they might choose to raise their young. Those people want action, and so do we.”

The RSPB and Cheshire Wildlife Trust (CWT) have stressed that the developers are doing nothing illegal but said it is always preferable to carry out such work outside of the nesting season.