The Friends of Radstock Railway Land have reacted angrily to work carried out last week on behalf of Linden Homes and the Norton Radstock Regeneration Company. Residents reported the blue hoardings to have been opened and work taking place on site from last Tuesday afternoon.

The land, which has stood untouched for over ten years, has become a haven for wildlife, particularly for invertebrates. Speaking to The Journal last week, Cate Le Grice Mack, Chair of NRR, said: "The works being carried out were the ecological works required in Area Two of the application before the onset of winter. The translocation of species had been carried out in the six days up until last Wednesday, supervised by ecological consultants having notified the necessary section within B&NES. Following the translocation, we were required to move the top soil to discourage any new wildlife from setting up before development starts."

During the week, an enforcement officer had been called in by a third party and residents were confused as to what was actually happening on the land. Cate Le Grice Mack said: "We met on site with the enforcement officer and they have since informed me that they are satisfied that procedures had been properly followed."

"Along the way, various comments have been made about the implications for contamination to be spread through these works. We and our developers are very clear about the contamination areas, where they are and the implications for the start of the development and when it happens, I can assure residents that we will be working in accordance with all the guidance and legal requirements."

The Friends of Radstock Railway Land, who are in the process of submitting an alternative planning application to B&NES for the land to be used as a nature reserve for the community, expressed concern for the reptiles, slow worms and the endangered fine-leaved Sandwort on site.

The NRR/Linden Homes planning application, originally due to be heard in October, may not be due before B&NES' Development Control Committee until December, as further information is needed by the applicant. The scheme is already falling behind, with roadworks not due to begin now until 2014.