A junction on the A1 that is being constructed by East Lothian council has been accused of needlessly destroying wildlife by wiping out a well used wild hedgerow.
The construction of the junction is understood to be located close to the Queen Margaret University campus.
But local residents have been horrified to see the destruction of vital wildlife space in the form of a hedgerow that acted as a home to several species from birds to mammals.
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Steve Jackson, who lives locally to the area, said: “In the field up behind the University, about 100 yards of hedgerow has been stripped out.
“I've seen Yellowhammer, Stonechat, Blackcap, Blackbirds, Sparrows, Wrens, Goldfinch, rabbits and foxes all in that stretch. All gone. It’s heartbreaking.
“What can they possibly build on that slope that required it to be stripped out?”
The local authority claims that the junction will provide critical infrastructure to improve accessibility and connectivity to QMU, which, in partnership with East Lothian council, is delivering an Innovation Hub adjacent to the university.
A spokesperson for East Lothian council said: “The council is working with the contractor to minimise the impact on natural features and only stripping out hedgerows or trees when absolutely necessary within the permitted development area.
“The majority of the clearance or felling of vegetation is undertaken outwith the bird nesting season.
“The contractor has carried out all necessary ecological surveys including watching briefs to determine the presence or otherwise of nesting birds prior to commencing clearance or felling. The final landscape forms an integral part of this project, and is designed to restore and create natural habitats all in accordance with planning conditions.”
But Steve was not impressed with their response, he said: “Typical council response, saying all the rules were followed with ecological surveys etc.
“I've only lived in Musselburgh, close to the Uni, for about one and a half years. I regularly walk up that field and have only seen dog walkers and the farmer harvesting turnips.
“That hedgerow was teeming with birdlife. I've seen foxes, deer and rabbits in the fields.
“Where will they go?
“It's been fairly obvious that these fields would be developed with only part of them being used for crops, but by being left to grow wild they were attracting lots of wildlife.
“The amount of houses being built is crazy, with little or no infrastructure surrounding these estates.
“The roads surrounding these estates are not made for the amount of traffic that's incoming.”
He added: “We moved from a flat in Leith, so to go from only seeing pigeons and seagulls and the occasional fox, to seeing or hearing something new nearly every time I walk the dog up there…it's heartbreaking that all that wildlife is being displaced.”
Wendy McDonald Maltman, who has lived in the area all her life, said: “This is so so sad. When I was a kid, that whole area from the train station, Whitehill to Stoneyhill used to be rife with wildlife, trees and plants. We would go walking about the whole area picking raspberries and blackberries that my dad and mum would then make jam with.
“It’s just so sad to see.”
Are you concerned about the loss of wildlife in your community due to developments?
If so please contact: Jacob.Farr@reachplc.com
