Protesters dressed as zombies are expected to gather at the entrance to a former Thanet farm this morning where work on 153 housing development could soon start.

The demonstration at 12.30pm outside Westwood Lodge, which borders Ramsgate Road and Poorhole Lane at Westwood, has been organised by the campaign group Thanet Trees and calls for a halt to any further tree clearance work so that new ecology surveys can be done on the wildlife.

The zombie theme is because the site is claimed to be a former Black Death medieval burial pit, which campaigners also believe needs historical investigation, and fears the site is "heading towards environmental apocalypse".

The original outline planning application for housing was refused by Thanet Council in 2015 but granted on appeal in 2017 following the Planning Inspectorate's observation that the local authority had failed to detail a five-year housing supply plan.

Now the applicant, Place for People Homes Ltd, has just submitted a new 'reserved matters' application to the council covering site access, landscaping, appearance and layout.

But the protest, dubbed a Plague on Westwood Village, has been sparked by the start of tree clearance work on the site.

A spokesman for Thanet Trees claims precious habitat is being destroyed in advance of full planning permission without further ecology surveys to identify rare wildlife at risk.

"This housing estate was refused planning by Thanet District Council because of the destruction of essential woodland habitat but won at appeal because we have no Local Plan to curb the continued urbanisation of Thanet," she said.

“It has been nearly five years since initial, basic, ecology surveys were carried out at this site.The new planning application, including an updated environmental management plan was published on February 13, well after clearance works had begun.”

The wildlife threatened, says the group, includes birds, bats, slow worms and reptiles as well as potentially badgers, dormice and hedgehogs.

But the scheme does protect many trees and others will be planted as well as a woodland trail created.

The grade II-listed Westwood Lodge, built in 1864, and the 17th century cottage and the gates will be preserved on site as part of the scheme.