ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners protesting against a housing estate in Warminster say there will be a 27 per cent loss in biodiversity if the scheme goes ahead.

Members of Sustainable Warminster have objected to the plans by developers Backhouse Ltd to build 28 new homes on land east of Damask Way, east of Upper Marsh Road and north of Smallbrook Lane.

The area is a green escarpment close to the Smallbrook Meadows Nature Reserve and overlooks the River Wylye, and contains areas of rare acid grassland which supports protected invertebrate and reptile species.

Its wooded areas support badgers and birds of conservation concern such as song thrush and tawny owl.

Sarah Walters, of Sustainable Warminster, said: “There are probably few towns in this country that are lucky enough to have a nature reserve that adjoins its town park and extends in part right into town, borders a Special Area of Conservation, has a chalk bed river that runs along its edge and whose neighbouring woods lie within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

“This is an important area for migration, hibernation, commuting and foraging habitat for protected species such as bats, otters, water voles and a large but threatened population of common toads, along with many other species of flora and fauna.

“The whole area forms an important connection between various different habitats such as ponds, woodland, rivers, marsh and grassland, allowing wildlife to move freely and safely between them.

“Sustainable Warminster insists that this is an area where thorough environmental planning is crucial and the area should not be built on.”

She says an independent survey based on the Defra ecology calculation reveals a 27 per cent net loss to biodiversity at Damask Way, Warminster.

It was carried out by NLG, Ecology Ltd, whose clients include Network Rail and United Utilities.

Ms Walters said: “If we allow this last piece of land connecting the town to the countryside beyond to be lost to developers, then we will lose 27 per cent of our local biodiversity forever - not to mention an amazing view of Scratchbury Hill.

“We need to ensure that the land at Damask Way remains an important green link between town and countryside, town and river, town and wildlife, for generations to come.”

In addition, there are concerns over the potential discharge of nitrates and phosphates into the chalk streams and the River Wylye which Sustainable Warminster says have not been assessed in the planning documents.

For this reason, Ms Walters says the Wiltshire county ecologist has objected to the plans saying that they may well be unlawful until a favourable Habitats Regulation Assessment has been completed.