Claims developers have hacked down healthy trees as part of a new housing project are being investigated by Thanet District Council.

Campaigners gathered at the former Laleham Gap School site in Cliftonville earlier this week to protest against the "mass removal" and damage to wildlife habitats.

The Mulberry Place development by Orbit Homes includes 70 new homes.

The firm says the trees cut down were in poor condition and at the end of their life cycle.

But some 20 members of the Thanet Trees group, who visited the site on Monday, claim the development has destroyed the green space by removing the trees, some of which they say had recently been fitted with bat boxes.

TDC has now launched an investigation into whether any planning conditions have been breached.

Amelia Gregory, from Thanet Trees, says the group feels the council has not implemented adequate mitigation plans to protect "much-needed habitat" after pipistrelle bats and slow worms were found on the site.

She said: "Laleham Gap was once surrounded by mature borders and large trees providing a much-needed habitat for our diminishing wildlife, and bisected by a beautiful and peaceful wooded lane much used and loved by local residents.

"This development was given permission with zero protection for mature trees and hedges and thus no acknowledgement of their importance in this heavily urbanised area, or as habitats and wildlife corridors for rapidly diminishing protected species which have been identified on the site."

Miss Gregory added the recent climate emergency declared by TDC councillors is rendered "meaningless" if mitigation and enforcement is not pushed through by the authority.

In its planning application, Orbit promised to "maintain the green leafy character of the area".

But Thanet Trees has branded this pledge a joke, adding: "We are all for play areas but not false promises from developers."

Orbit says it is working with environmental specialists to protect wildlife, adding the trees removed were "in poor condition".

James Nicholson, the company's operations director, said: "We care about our communities and that includes the environment where people live.

"We are working closely with an environmental specialist to determine how to protect local wildlife and the habitat during construction.

"The trees and shrubs that have been removed were in the latter stages of their life cycle and in poor condition.

"As part of planning consent, we will be replacing them with an increased number of brand new trees and shrubs as part of our final landscaping.

"The 70 new homes are being developed on a former brownfield site that had been derelict for some time."

A spokesman for TDC confirmed they had received complaints and will be investigating matters relating to trees and ecology and whether the developers are complying with the planning permission.

"Any allegations about harm to protected species through the removal of trees should be referred to Kent Police," the spokesman added.

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