DEERAND PRESENT DANGER
Wildlife habitat ruined by new estate say irate residents
Disgusted Cambuslang residents say a new housing development has wreaked havoc with local wildlife.
The concerned Westburn neighbours have looked on incredulously as deer, badgers, foxes and other creatures roam their streets with increasing regularity.
Tragically, one deer has been found dead at nearby Newton train station.
The residents of Mitchell Avenue, situated near a hill that has long been home to an array of wildlife, say they have been most affected by recent developments.
They claim the influx of animals has been caused by the nearby Taylor Wimpey housing development, which saw 136 new properties go on the market
last year, and landscaping work carried out on the hill in recent weeks.
Westburn resident Shazie McGowan said:“I’m disgusted by what these builders have done.
“They have ruined the full ecosystem here. There were butterfly cocoons nestling in the grass ready to hatch for spring, frogs making their way to the burn to spawn, birds getting ready for nesting, foxes hunting for food – that’s only a few adverse effects caused by destroying that hill.
“Watching the wildlife has been my way of getting through this pandemic and to see its habitat destroyed in this manner has been heart wrenching.”
The loss of green belt land and increase of new houses in Cambuslang has been a concern of locals for many years.
A total of 1500 hew homes are set to be built in total through the second phase of the Taylor Wimpey development.
Another resident, Karen
Bowman Crooks, said:“As trivial as it sounds that hill is important to us, and to the whole area.
“Cambuslang is bursting at the seams with housing now and this is the effect of that. The only thing we have been asking from the builders is that the hill be left untouched as we all knew there was so much wildlife there, particularly the six deer.
“We knew this would happen when we saw work being carried out there.”
Jackie Campbell, another resident, told the Reformer she was now seeing badgers regularly in her garden.
She said:“I’ve lived here all my life and always enjoyed our field on the hill because we have the privilege of seeing all the gorgeous wildlife there.
“But now we see the hill is being turned over and all these animals are clearly being moved out their homes and onto the streets.
“We see these animals walking around in broad daylight looking for food and sleeping in gardens. It’s so sad to see.”
The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals told the Reformer it is concerned about the situation.
Chief superintendent Mike Flynn said:“We are sorry to hear about the death of a deer in the Westburn area.
“Any building work likely to cause disruption to the environment and wildlife should be approved by Nature Scotland.
“They will have considered the impact the work will cause to surrounding eco-systems and animals.
“However, if welfare issues are being raised regarding the deer then we would expect Nature Scotland to contact us to discuss how best to protect the deer from any risk or harm.
“If anyone can provide a witness statement that the work is causing welfare issues, or there is risk to human life with deer being near busy main roads, then they should contact our animal helpline on 03000 999 999.”
A spokesperson for Taylor Wimpey West Scotland said: “Cambuslang enjoys a rich biodiverse landscape and animals such as wild deer roam freely.
“We would like to reassure the local community that ecology surveys for all protected species are undertaken at all appropriate stages of construction at our Newton Farm development.
“We are committed to maintaining and enhancing the natural environment on our developments, and our designs for open space areas within our developments aim to promote significant levels of biodiversity.
“The area to the rear of Mitchell Avenue is designated within the masterplan for the creation of habitat areas and we are undertaking preliminary works to prepare the area for landscaping.”