The Environment Agency has stepped in to stop residents felling trees and cutting back bushes along the banks of the River Brue in Highbridge.
Several new residents living in Clyce Road have cleared away greenery along the side of the river bank in recent days without the permission of the land owner, The Environment Agency.
Several local residents say they are outraged by the move, claiming that its threatens wildlife habitats along the riverside.
It all began last week when one resident cut down several trees, apparently not knowing that such actions cannot be carried out without the go-ahead from The Environment Agency.
When Environment Agency officers received complaints about the smell of burning and smoke at the river side on Sunday morning, they stepped in to halt the clearing work.
Highbridge councillor Joe Leach told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I am saddened to see such damage done to our environment. I understand that perhaps one or two people didn’t realise the laws, but to continue after they had been warned was a clear violation and a show of ignorance.”
“If anyone requires these trees or bushes to be trimmed they must contact the Environment Agency and not take it upon themselves to do the work. We are supposed to be encouraging our environment, not destroying it.”
Mike Dunning of the Environment Agency said: “This is agency land and the work should not have gone ahead without our permission. The river bank is a habitat for wildlife and the removal of waste has to be controlled.”
“Residents would need to submit a Land Drainage Constraint application to do clearing work here. We have therefore written to those who did the work, along with local residents, explaining the position and to raise awareness of the issue.”
Our photo above shows one of the areas of undergrowth along the River Brue that has controversially been cut back by residents
