Outrage and urgent questions as Brackenway works raise serious fears for nesting birds, bats and local wildlife

Deep concern is growing across Formby following the start of clearance works at the former Kentonwood Stables site on the Brackenway development, with residents, campaigners and the Parish Council warning of potentially serious risks to protected wildlife and possible breaches of environmental safeguards.

Reports from nearby residents state that activity began on site today, Monday 13th April, with pest control contractors moving in after developer Taylor Wimpey confirmed that the deteriorating condition of the stables has led to what they describe as a significant pest issue.

In a letter to residents, the developer explained that large volumes of hay and abandoned materials inside the buildings have created ideal nesting and breeding conditions for rodents. As a result, pest control firm Rentokil has been instructed to manage the situation, including clearing out the buildings.

Letter sent to residents

However, it is the timing, method and wider environmental implications of these works that are now causing alarm.

Serious fears for nesting birds and protected species

Residents have reported that the stable buildings are currently alive with nesting birds, raising urgent questions about whether any clearance work is lawful at this time of year.

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, it is a criminal offence to intentionally damage or destroy an active bird’s nest while it is in use. Any work that risks disturbing nesting birds must be carefully managed, and in many cases delayed, to avoid breaking the law.

Even more concerning are credible fears that the buildings may also be used by bats.

Bats and their roosts are fully protected in the UK, meaning it is illegal to disturb, damage or destroy a roosting site without a licence and a full ecological assessment. Crucially, this protection applies whether bats are present at the time or not, if the structure is known to be used by them.

There are also concerns for hedgehogs, a species already in sharp national decline, which are known to inhabit the surrounding area.

These concerns have now been formally escalated by Formby Parish Council, which has written to Sefton Council demanding urgent clarification.

Parish Council demands answers before any further work

In a strongly worded communication, Formby Parish Council has raised a series of urgent questions, including whether:

• A full and up to date ecological survey has been carried out

• Protected species such as bats have been properly assessed

• Nesting bird checks have been undertaken before any clearance

• Legal protections for wildlife are being fully observed

The Council has also highlighted the site’s close proximity to sensitive natural habitats, including land managed by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust.

Given this location, the Council has warned that any failure to follow strict environmental safeguards could have serious and far reaching consequences for local biodiversity.

They have called for absolute transparency and have made clear that no works should proceed unless all legal and ecological requirements are fully satisfied.

Parish Council demands answers from Sefton Council before any further work Is done

Fears over use of poison and impact on the food chain

Alongside the risk to protected species, residents have voiced growing concern about the potential use of rodenticides as part of pest control measures.

While such treatments are commonly used, their impact can extend far beyond the intended target.

Foxes, birds of prey and even domestic pets can be affected through secondary poisoning after consuming contaminated rodents. Hedgehogs, which forage close to the ground, are also particularly vulnerable.

Formby is widely known for its rich and diverse wildlife, and locals say it is not uncommon to see foxes hunting at dusk, hedgehogs moving through gardens and a wide range of birdlife across the area.

Residents fear that heavy handed pest control could disrupt this delicate ecosystem.

Controversy over Paradise Lane access

The situation has been further intensified by plans to use Paradise Lane as an access route for the works.

Original planning agreements are understood to restrict construction traffic from using this residential road. However, due to ongoing access issues from the Formby Bypass, Taylor Wimpey has stated that temporary use of Paradise Lane is now necessary to allow machinery, operatives and waste removal linked specifically to the pest clearance.

The developer has stressed that this is a limited, one off arrangement and not a permanent change. They also say discussions have taken place with planning officers, environmental health and local councillors, who are said to support the move in light of the pest concerns.

Despite these assurances, many residents remain uneasy, questioning whether this change has been formally authorised and whether it undermines previously agreed planning protections.

A community demanding accountability

What is clear is that this situation has struck a nerve within the community.

The Taylor Wimpy site where they are building 285 houses

Residents are not only concerned about the immediate works taking place, but about the wider principle of how development is managed in environmentally sensitive areas like Formby.

There is a growing call for:

• Clear evidence that all legal protections for wildlife are being followed

• Confirmation that no active nests or protected species will be harmed

• Full transparency around pest control methods being used

• Assurance that planning conditions are not being bypassed

With works now underway, the coming days are likely to be critical.

For many in Formby, this is about far more than a single site. It is about protecting the natural environment that makes the area so special, and ensuring that development does not come at the cost of wildlife that cannot speak for itself.