A KEEN conservationist has criticised developers and “idiotic” planning laws after wildlife habitats were torn apart.

New plans are set to be submitted for a 54-house development on the former reservoir site in Wittonwood Road, Frinton.

Developers have been preparing the site for building work by bulldozing the shrubbery.

Nearby resident Des Exmond has hit out at the developers, claiming they are destroying the wildlife habitats on the site.

He said: “I have fully accepted there will be a development here, but I don’t like the way they are going about it.

“They have carried out a reptile survey in accordance with Natural England and found slow worms, but no common lizards, which I know are on the site.

“In my opinion their survey was flawed. I think they purposefully didn’t go near the shrubs which are the preferred habitats for the lizards.

“They have now bulldozed through the shrubs, destroying those habitats.”

Dr Exmond tried to alert the local authorities to stop it happening, but he hit a dead end.

He added: “I talked to Tendring Council, but because no plans were currently lodged with the council, there was nothing they could do.

“Wildlife protection officers were also unable to stop it.

“To me, it is absolute lunacy. It seems the developers can vandalise the site as much as they like before submitting their plans.

“This just means when they do submit the plans there will be no wildlife standing in their way.

“It makes me angry at the idiocy of our planning laws and angry about the apparent lack of concern over our natural environment.”

No one from developer One Property Group was available for comment. Plans for the Wittonwood Road development were submitted last year.

Frinton and Walton Town Council recommended refusal and they were withdrawn, before going in front of Tendring Council.

A revised plan now looks set to be submitted.