Wildlife habitat 'destroyed' by Weymouth cycleway work (From Thisisdorset)

Wildlife habitat 'destroyed' by Weymouth cycleway work

8:00pm Friday 19th March 2010 in

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A PENSIONER said she was almost in tears when she saw the state of a hedge near her Weymouth home.

Charity shop worker Rhoda Workman claims a habitat for birds has been destroyed after workmen took their chainsaws to it.

Mrs Workman, of Juniper Way, was horrified when she saw trees and bushes had been drastically cut back along a path between Upwey railway station and the Bridlebank Way housing estate.

The work was in preparation for the laying of a new cycleway by Dorset County Council, part of a new network being installed for the 2012 Olympics.

Mrs Workman, 66, said: “My reaction was one of sheer horror. The whole lot has been wiped out.

“Apart from the destruction, this is nesting season so I’m concerned that nests have been wiped out.

“I’m absolutely devastated. I was nearly in tears when I got off the train and saw what had happened.

“I saw two blackbirds next to it and I was so upset their home had been destroyed.

As part of the Weymouth Relief Road scheme, new rights of way access are being constructed.

Dorset County Council says the scrub land in question is being cleared to make room for a cycleway.

Council natural environment manager Phil Sterling said: “We’ve cut down a small number of thorn trees and cleared an area of bramble, some of which had been fly-tipped into in the past. Some large trees have been left in place at the edges.

“Prior to the clearance works, myself and the Skanska environmental manager checked the area for nesting birds and we are leaving a small thicket, which will be cleared later, because we are concerned that a blackbird may be starting to nest there.

“There will be space for replacing the thorn trees as part of the cycleway improvements.”