A PETITION has been set up to stop the transfer of a nature reserve area in a Somerset town.

Somerset West and Taunton Council (SWT) were in the process of finalising the transfer of land to the rear of Wellington Sports Centre to Wellington Rugby Football Club until recently.

They have now decided to hold off on finalising the plans after receiving more than 100 representations.

The consultation was focused on the land disposal rather than the future use of the land, which is not a development site.

However, three-quarters of the objections concerned the proposed use of the parcel of land and the wider works proposed by the rugby club.

And so SWT have advised the rugby football club to submit a planning application.

A spokesperson for SWT said: “We are advising the club that they should submit a planning application for their proposals and that the council will look again at the question of disposal following this process.

“Until this time the council has decided to defer any decision on the proposed transfer.”

More than 700 people have signed the ‘protect our nature reserve’ petition to stop the transfer of the land.

The petition states: “This is a very small reserve, close to the centre of town, enjoyed by birds, animals and walkers alike. We are very grateful for the work done by volunteers to care for it and are now shocked to learn, trees are already being removed.

“We would like this action to cease immediately, until a consultation process has been held for the public to determine our right to protect such a valuable space.”

Donna Pollak, from the Wellington Street Tree project, said there is “considerable evidence” that clearance work has already been carried out at the site - despite no transfer or plans being approved.

“The area is proven to be home to protected species including bats, water voles, badgers and various amphibians hence the Wildlife Site designation and their presence has been witnessed over the last week,” she said.

“It is precisely this eroding of the natural environment, little by little, assuming it has minimal effect, that has led to the catastrophic loss of 70 per cent of all our native wildlife since the 1970s and created a wildlife emergency as pressing as, and closely linked to, the climate emergency.”

To sign the petition, visit change.org/p/wellington-town-council-somerset-protect-our-nature-reserve.