Badgers under threat in Wallbank house-building scheme, claim residents

Badgers under threat in Wallbank house-building scheme

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Wallbank residents are angry about plans to build 45 houses on the edge of the estate that they claim would threaten local wildlife including badgers, deer and foxes.

We spoke to Abbie Kempson who has lived in the area for four years. She told us that residents on Eastgate and Westgate had been unaware of plans until a white van had pulled up at the beginning of August and had begun preparatory work. She told us that residents were “deeply concerned” that no ecological survey had been completed as it should have been done and that a Friends of Wallbank Group (FOWG) had been formed.

The group had contacted the Lancashire Wildlife Trust and the Lancashire Badger Group who had offered support and advice.

In addition to the ecological impact, FWAB was also concerned about the visual impact on the area and upon local traffic plus the ability of local schools to provide additional places. The Group is to hold further meetings to discuss how best to take the issue forward and say that they have had good support from local councillors.

Rossendale Borough Council insists that residents were written to informing them of the planning application and that notices had been placed in newspapers and on lamp posts. Residents deny this and we were unable to find anyone who had been aware of the plans, which were submitted by the Harry Yearsley Self-Administered Pension Fund. 

This is believed to be part of the Yearsley Group based in Rochdale which was established in 1955 and describes itself as “a major player” in the frozen food and cold storage and distribution industry. Its head offices are in Heywood but it has distribution sites all over the UK.

In connection with this story, I was asked to see some of the local wildlife for myself.

I was invited to the home of Mrs T who asked that her identity and her address not be divulged in order to protect the badgers.

I arrived at her house on the estate about an hour after sunset and sat in her conservatory with a cup of coffee where I witnessed a most amazing sight.

Mrs T went into the garden carrying a large bowl of cold cooked pasta which she prepares every evening and left it out on the lawn. She then returned to the conservatory where we waited and chatted. After another twenty minutes or so, the garden lights switched themselves on as a large badger came through the hedge, looked around and started tucking into his pasta supper. He was about five to six feet from where I was sat holding my mug of coffee and was fully aware that I was there.

If I thought that this was the whole of the show, nothing prepared me for what followed. Ten or fifteen minutes later, two smaller, younger badgers decided that they too felt a bit peckish and decided to join the feast and I was treated to the amazingly privileged sight of these wonderful mammals, tucking into their evening meal without a care in the world.

Mrs T explained that the badgers had been appearing in her garden for about six years and were often joined for supper by a fox which, although happy to dine with the badgers was wary about turning his back on them. Mrs T had also seen deer in the area though none had ventured into her garden yet.

Perhaps they are watching their waist-lines!