Bohemia Village Voice

Rubbish strewn badger sett

Grave concerns about the badger sett at Horntye Park have been raised by the Hastings Badger Protection Society. Don Wise, the society’s president, says that “very serious wildlife issues” are concomitant with the Horntye Park development proposals. Mr Wise claims that advice from experts and the Badger Protection Society have been totally ignored by Council Officers. He has pointed out concerns to the Borough Ecologist and sent documentation to the Council’s Planning Dept on behalf of the members of the Badger Society.
In the documentation he points out that “the all-weather pitch provides no natural food for wildlife … the cricket field, treated annually with chemicals, provides no sustainable natural food resources. The only area left for badger foraging is part of the tree belt … water during periods of drought is available only from the spring line feeding the ponds in Summerfields Woods. There’s only one route by which the badgers from the Horntye sett are able to visit other badgers in Summerfields Woods”.
He says, “Because there has not been any correct forward planning, to proceed with any further building schemes that deprive the wildlife of natural sustainable food in this locality would be annihilation by starvation. Other legal issues would be that the property owners (Horntye Park Trustees) must make available alternative natural sustainable foraging, free safe passage to fresh water and free movement for all animals to socialise with others of their species.”
As well as the problems associated with development plans, there are also problems with rubbish dumping. Mr Wise says, “The badger sett is suffering from systematic serious interference….constant rubbish dumping taking place is blocking entrances and access to parts of the sett.” He has sent photographs and a complaint about this to the police.
“The Badger Society will take the problem further if no action is forthcoming.” said Mr Wise.
Horntye replies:
The Badger Society appears to make accusations, of differing magnitude, against a number of organisations including the Police, Hastings Borough Council, The Park Lane Group and the Trustees of Horntye Park Sports Complex. I am unable to speak on behalf of these other organisations but I can assure Mr.Wise and his colleagues, at the Badger Society, his attack and accusations against the Trustees of Horntye Park is unfounded.
In conjunction with our developers and at considerable cost a number of ecological surveys have been undertaken covering amongst others things reptiles, trees, plants and general wildlife and their habitat.
May I suggest to the Society that before making public, possible libellous accusations, they actually simply pick up the phone and talk to us? We would be more than happy to discuss in detail our plans and advance any ideas for working together to the satisfaction of everyone.
Kevin Miller, General Manager, Horntye Park Sports Complex 

Badger Hidey - Hole