A POLICE report has been made after a local campaign group alleged workers who were excavating the area broke environment protection laws.
Friends of the Fields Iffley filed a report to Thames Valley Police after contractors began excavation work on the field at Meadow Lane earlier this month.
The campaigning group said that the excavators ‘encroached on the badger sett’.
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Excavation starts at Iffley Fields
This potential encroachment, the group said, meant there was ‘a potentially prosecutable action’ was made’ due to Badger protection laws.
The group said it was also concerned with the amount of activity taking place at the site.
Friends of the Fields of Iffley said it was told by Oxford City Housing Limited [OCHL], who own the land, that there would be 'limited activity' on the site, which included removing the Japanese knotweed and the fallen tree.
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OCHL also told the campaigners that 'all works will be well away from the badger sett'.
Evelyn Sanderson, chair of Friends of the Fields Iffley, said: “We are deeply concerned about what happened in terms of communication.
"We are also concerned about what is happening ecologically."
The group said the excavation caused 'destruction of hedgerows' and 'uprooted wood and hedgerows piled right next to badger sett'.
The campaigners met with OCHL to discuss the matter of 'lack of communication'.
Ms Sanderson said:“We had a meeting with Oxford City Housing Limited about the issue, but they did not feel able to communicate much on this matter.
“They did, however, promise to have an internal review and get feedback. Lessons need to be learned."
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A spokesperson for Oxford City Council said: “A contractor was undertaking work to excavate a large area of Japanese knotweed, clear overgrowth and remove a fallen tree and some waste. When we were alerted that a stockpile had been placed near a badger sett we instructed the contractor to stop all work and vacate the site."
The council made clear that the work does not mark the start of the development, but a 'proactive' approach to land management and eradicating Japanese knotweed, which can cause ecological damage and is classed as controlled waste.
The spokesperson added: “We are preparing a consultation schedule for developing the Meadow Lane site to build much needed new housing, which is included in the approved Local Plan 2036. We currently do not expect to submit a planning application before late summer or early autumn.”
A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: “Thames Valley Police received a call on 7 January reporting potential breaches of a badger protection order on land at the junction of Church Way and Meadow Lane.
“An investigation is ongoing. No arrests have been made."
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