A TOP councillor has written a scathing letter to a developer demanding a public apology after it ripped up a protected hedgerow.

Martin Goss has written to firm Osbourne after it removed 170 metres of mature hedge at the Salary Brook Nature Reserve in Colchester.

The developer is constructing student accommodation on land adjacent to the reserve, but did not have permission to remove the hedge from the Colchester Council land.

Gazette:

The authority’s waste, transport and environment boss has called for the firm to publicly apologise for its “breathtaking incompetence”.

He said: “I wanted to personally write and express my complete anger at this utter devastation your incompetent organisation and subcontractors have caused.

“Residents in Colchester are quite rightly beyond furious with such reckless action and unwarranted destruction.

“You illegally encroached on to council-owned land and removed a hedge and bund you had absolutely no permission or reason to touch.

“I am yet to see any public apology, any remorse from your company directors or any formal statements condemning this breathtaking incompetence.”

The hedgerow is believed to have been home to dormouse, a protected species.

Mr Goss said the destruction of this wildlife habitat had been reported to the police.

He added: “It will take over 50 years to restore the devastation that your organisation has caused.”

A spokesperson for Osborne said: “We continue to investigate the matter and are working closely with ecological and professional experts to gain a clear picture of what has happened.

“Once investigations are completed, we will communicate our findings openly and collaboratively with all relevant parties.

“We take our environmental responsibilities extremely seriously. Whatever the outcome of our investigation, we shall undertake recommended actions to replenish the vegetation and biodiversity of the area.”

Campaigners have set up a petition demanding a long-term management plan is created for the nature reserve.

Set up by resident Shaun Boughton, it calls for a prosecution and fine to be issued which “reflects the damage caused and the suffering and loss of wildlife”.

So far, more than 3,000 people have signed. Visit bit.ly/2SQJw0a.