Work to move newts is halted

Work to move a colony of great crested newts to make way for a housing development in Shrewsbury has had to be halted for the winter because it is too cold to move them, it has been revealed.

A controversial application to build 20 affordable homes near the Territorial Army base in Sundorne was approved last year despite a wave of objections. Construction on the Severnside Housing development is not scheduled to start until July.

And it has now emerged compulsory work to move rare newts to a nearby reserve has had to stop until temperatures increase.

Councillor Malcolm Price, portfolio holder for housing at Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council, said the authority, which is supporting the development, had purchased a hectare of land from the trustees of Sundorne Estates to rehouse them.

He said: "Between July 20, 2007 and November 19, 2007 we collected and relocated 771 newts but we've currently had to shut down for winter and we can't start collecting again until the temperature starts stabilising at night to at least five degrees centigrade. They have told me the earliest we will be able to do it is February and the worst case is April."

The housing development, earmarked for land at Montgomery Way, will begin in July subject to the outcome of a funding application made by Severnside to the Housing Corporation.

The site is will be transformed into four detached and 16 semi-detached properties.

By Russell Roberts