Tory councillor faces police probe over claims he deliberately damaged habitat of endangered water voles to clear way for £900,000 housing estate on his Somerset farm

• Mark Keating has been accused by locals in Somerset of ‘wanton vandalism’ 
• Residents said protected water voles are a potential obstacle for 35 new homes
• No voles are have been sited in since the habitat was allegedly damaged 

Tory councillor Mark Keating (pictured above) has plans to build 35 new homes in the area

A senior councillor is being investigated over claims he destroyed the habitat of endangered water voles in order to clear the path for a housing estate he wants to build.

Mark Keating has been accused of an act of ‘wanton vandalism’ after he had the grass verges that run alongside a brook cut back, in order to build 35 new homes.

The protected rodents in a stream next to the proposed development in Somerset are said to be a potential obstacle. 

Locals in the village of Haselbury Plucknett say the Tory councillor’s act was done to ‘pervert the course’ of his planning application.

This is while one resident, William Hunt claimed the last time he saw a water vole was on May 21, eight days before work is said to have began.

The matter has now been referred to Avon and Somerset police who are investigating a potential offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Mr Keating, 56, who is the vice-chairman of Somerset County Council and has lived in the village for 18 years has labelled the allegations ‘an absolute pack of lies’.

The grass verge in the area (pictured above) after it was trimmed down to accommodate more traffic

Local William Hunt (pictured above) said he hasn’t seen any of the water voles since the works began in May 

Plans submitted to South Somerset District Council, state that the new homes would be built on four acres of land on Mr Keating’s £900,000 Bay Tree Farm.

In order to cater for the increase in traffic which would be created, Mr Keating would have to widen the country lane that runs next to the brook.

To do this, it would mean tarmacking over some parts of the grass verges where the voles build their nests.

Mr Keating’s planning application has attracted scores of letters of objection, including one from Haselbury Plucknett Parish Council.

In a hard-hitting letter Chris Simmonds, the chairman of the parish council, said: ‘I must draw your attention to an act of wanton vandalism perpetrated by the applicant…in deliberately destroying the water vole habitat along the side of the stream.

‘This was a premeditated attempt to pervert the course of this application by killing a protective mammal, this village prides itself in the bio diversity of its verges, waterways, and open spaces.

‘We will not be bullied into accepting standards of this sort of behaviour, for personal gain, by anyone. We will be notifying the ecology consultant of this act of sabotage.’

This is while a resident living 300 metres away from the site claimed water voles had regularly been seen in the verges before the work to cut them back.

Locals have said they will not be bullied into accepting ‘standards of this behaviour’ from Mr Keating who they believe is harming the habitat for personal gain

Retired bomb-disposal officer William Hunt, 64, said: ‘My house backs onto the brook and I have water voles on my property, and my neighbours do, so I know they are there.

What is a water vole?

The water vole, its scientific name the Arvicola amphibius is much like a brown rat.

It is currently under serious threat from habitat loss and predation by the non-native American mink.

The water vole (pictured above) looks much like a fluffy version of a brown rat

The mammal is found along waterways across the UK and has a blunt nose, small ears and a furry tail.  

They can be seen all year and like to sit and eat in the same places. 

Water voles start to breed in spring and have up to four litters a year. 

‘The village has a wildlife group that is trying to protect the habitats of animals in the area. Somebody from the group noticed the destruction.

‘Afterwards members of the group went to investigate along with some local residents.

‘Photos clearly show water in the brook and all the cut vegetation left blocking it, obstructing the water vole runs and making the water voles vulnerable to predation.

‘The last time I saw a water vole was on May 21, eight days before work.’

In his defence, Mr Keating pointed to an ecology report he had commissioned that stated that water voles were ‘not considered to be a constraint to works’.

He said that he has maintained the grass verge next to the stream for years.

Mr Keating, a former company director, said: ‘These are verges I’ve cut for a number of years with permission of the county highways (department).

‘It’s a storm in a tea cup where a bunch of local NIMBY’s who don’t want development in the village are finding a way of attacking me.

Water can be seen in a small brook (pictured above) where cut vegetation has been left blocking the stream

‘It is farcical to think I would do anything to harm wildlife. It’s an absolute pack of lies.’

Mr Keating claims that he had received verbal abuse over his plans and he has even made a complaint to the police over allegations he wife, Mhairi, was physically threatened on one occasion.

He added: ‘The story should be that my wife and I have been threatened in our own village over a planning application on our own land which would bring 12 affordable homes to the village.’

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said: ‘We’re investigating a report that damage has been caused to a known water vole habitat in the Crewkerne area.

‘Disturbing the habitats of water voles is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Enquiries are ongoing.’

South Somerset District Council is expected to make a decision on Mr Keating’s planning application in September.

But Mr Hunt said members of the village were currently raising funds to legally challenge the ruling if it goes against them.

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