'No evidence' found of deer baby death at Oxford North

Rumours of a roe deer fawn being killed by mowing machinery at Oxford North have been circulating this week in Wolvercote and other nearby neighbourhoods.

The developer of the site, Thomas White Oxford, as said it had found ‘no evidence’ of the fawn’s death, said to have taken place last Friday, May 28, but it has made a donation to local animal hospital Tiggywinkles to ease concerns of nearby residents.

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Developer TWO, which is wholly owned by St John's College, said a 'vigorous investigation was launched' after it received a series of emails.

Construction near the Oxford North site, Wolvercote. Picture: Ed Nix

Correspondence from residents claimed a baby deer had been run over by an industrial mower on the westernmost section of the Oxford North site, known as Canalside.

The mower, operated by Witney-based contracting company Bowards, was being used to strip away couch grass, an invasive weed, so it did not pop up in the gardens of homes which will be built at Oxford North.

Mike Boys of Boward Tree Surgery said he had spoke with his colleague who was driving the mower at the time.

Mr Boys said: "The machine operator informed me that during the mowing operation he was regularly mowing over items of discarded litter but was not aware of hitting a live animal.

"Given the size and the power of the machinery being used he would not have been aware from the performance of the machine that any untoward occurrence had taken place.’

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A local councillor, Liz Wade, said she was confident TWO had taken steps to prevent anything similar from taking place in the future, after visiting the site at the end of last week.

The developer has placed heras fencing - the tall, temporary metal barriers often seen at building sites - around Canalside, and it is also mounting cameras around the perimeter.

Ms Wade added she had seen a video taken by a resident living near the site which showed a female deer from a distance, apparently distressed and leaning over something small and brown on the ground.

A roe deer and her baby. Stock image from Sussex. Picture: SWNS

Ms Wade said: "The footage does not show the deer being killed.

"It appeared to me she may well have been been trying to look at something small and brown, but that is all I saw, but I cannot be certain."

Some residents, unhappy with plans for Oxford North, have called on the developer to commission further ecological studies of the site before continuing building work.

Carol Peaker, one of the residents, said: "It was unmown meadow with dense hedgerows. Perfect for wildlife. Locals have been posting photos of deer and foxes for years. Despite the destruction of their habitat, they have remained and are in clear view."

Oxford North is billed as a new 'life sciences district' of the city, which could provide 480 new homes, and as many as 4,500 jobs.