A wildlife group has objected to “unsafe” gates put at the entrance to badger homes as part of “ruthless” plans to relocate the animals out of a new homes site.

Protesters from Borden Wildlife Group gathered outside the sales suite of Barratt/David Wilson Homes’ Applegate Park development in Wises Lane, Borden last Friday.

Villagers arrived with placards, badger masks and banners, on what was National Badger Day, to protest builders installing badger gates at the entrances to two setts – a system of interconnected tunnels and chambers used by the creatures.

The gates, the group claims, allow badgers to get out of their setts but do not allow them to return and are being patrolled by security guards and guard dogs.

However, the developers told KentOnline the badgers can enter and exit their setts freely until they are used to the gates - after which point the gates become exits only and they won’t be able to return.

Once all the badgers have exited their sett the gates will be fixed. This is a Natural England-licensed method of removing badgers under the strict supervision of an ecologist.

The controversy comes after villagers protested against almost 700 homes being built on Skylark habitat at the same site in May.

The proposals for the homes were approved in January 2019 despite hundreds of letters of objection from residents.

Meanwhile plans for a new home for Sittingbourne Rugby Club, which includes state-of-the-art pitches and a multi-storey clubhouse, were deferred by Swale council in August.

Vivien Smith, a member of the Borden Wildlife Group, questioned where wildlife in the area was “supposed to go”.

She said: “It's a ruthless operation driving out our precious wildlife, so much of the area is being decimated for development and where is wildlife supposed to go just to survive?

“Much loved and respected badger clans have lived here for many generations, and now they are being driven out.”

She added: “This cruelty is sickening and it's wholly unacceptable when the country is suffering a worrying crisis for nature."

A spokesman for Barratt/David Wilson Homes Kent said that the badger gates have recently been tampered with “resulting in their obstruction and unsafe operation”.

He explained: “Under licence from Natural England and overseen by an expert ecologist, badger gates were installed that allow two-way access on a number of setts at Applegate Park.

“Unfortunately, some of these gates were then tampered with by illegal trespassers, resulting in their obstruction and unsafe operation.

“Any evidence which helps to identify who caused the substantial interference and damage caused to the badger exclusion equipment will be passed to the police.

“Since the criminal damage occurred all of the gates have been repaired and replaced.”