Protestors were expected to turn out in force today (Friday) as bulldozers moved in to demolish several badger holes on a site earmarked for a new leisure centre.

The demonstrators were angry that work was carried out on the land in Rayleigh Road, Thundersley, before full planning permission has been given for the Virgin complex.

English Nature granted Virgin a licence for a badger expert to block several holes and one-way gates have been set up at the entrance to the holes to stop any badger from going back inside once it had come out.

After two weeks, the situation was reviewed and because there were no signs of badger activity, the gates were moved further into the hole for another fortnight.

Mechanical diggers were then expected to demolish the three holes this morning after no evidence of badgers was found.

One of the protesters, living in nearby Prittle Close, said: "Quite a few residents are really up in arms about this. We certainly don't like the way the holes are being bulldozed through. We feel Virgin should have waited until a decision had been made one way or the other by the Secretary of State.

"It just leaves a really nasty taste in the mouth because there is nothing we can do about it."

A spokesman for Virgin Active said it takes the protection of wildlife very seriously and would not be undertaking the work if badger safety was to be compromised.

The spokesman said: "The closure of the holes is being fully supervised by Dr Julian Brown, an independent badger consultant. A licence has been issued by English nature to allow us to close three disused holes on the site."

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