Fear that link roadwork will result in harm to wildlife

15/4/14- Glimpse of the Bexhill to Hastings Link Road (BHLR) from it's junction with Little Common Road, Bexhill. SUS-140415-170131001

The work is being carried out in the old railway cutting north of the Ninfield Road bridge in Sidley, where East Sussex County Council (ESCC) has asked contractors to remove trees and undergrowth in order to allow for embankment stabilisation work.

On April 22, witnesses saw ecologists removing what appeared to be a nest from a recently felled tree, as well as distressed baby squirrels.

The RSPB advises that tree felling should be avoided between 1 March and 31 August in order to protect nesting birds, whilst the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes it an offence to knowingly damage or destroy a live nest .

Local resident Anthony Bradnum said: “We saw an ecologist remove something which looked like a nest from a tree which had just been felled.

“We saw two baby squirrels, which had obviously lost their parents and were clinging to our legs in distress. It is absolutely irresponsible for the county council to be doing this work in the middle of the nesting season.”