‘It’s been devastated’

Work started t his week on a £10 million showroom and sports complex at King’s Cross Road in Dundee.

The development, by the John Clark Motor Group, will house a new Jaguar Land Rover dealership and a BMW Mini garage.

But locals have claimed the company fast-tracked the clearance of a bird habitat — despite previously agreeing only to start the work after the breeding season had finished.

They say bushes and shrubs where species including yellowhammer and whitethroat nest were “ripped up” as part of the work.

Graham Cross, chairman of environment group Bonnie Dundee and a member of Ardler Environmental Group, said: “It’s been completely devastated, despite them saying they wouldn’t do it.

He said: “We continue to recognise the concerns of local residents and we can offer our full assurance that we are acting in accordance with the planning permission conditions for the development.

“Working alongside Dundee City Council, we have commissioned a full survey of the site by an independent ecologist, who will be working with us across the coming months.

“The current site work reflects the outcome of this assessment and further consultations with Dundee City Council.”

Mr Cross said some of rarest birds in Tayside nest at the site.

He added: “People need to know about this and how this has happened right under our noses.”

Once completed, the King’s Cross Road development is expected to create up to 50 jobs, as well as providing new facilities for Lochee Harp Junior Football Club and St Francis Boxing Club in exchange for their existing land.

A CAR firm has hit back after being accused of leaving a bird habitat “completely devastated”.

Graham Cross, of Bonnie Dundee, and fellow environmental campaigner Mary Harwood, of the Scottish Wildlife Trust.

An artist’s impression of the proposed John Clark development.