THE OWNER of a golf club near Chard has hit back after being accused by locals of “neglectful destruction” of a wildlife habitat.

Stephen Hill, co-owner of Cricket St Thomas Golf Club, has responded to the claims made by a group of Chaffcombe residents in last week’s News by saying the hedges on Knapp Lane had been badly neglected and were causing safety concerns for drivers.

Mr Hill also co-owns engineering business Metaltech Precision, and purchased the golf club in October 2014.

He said: “These hedges have been badly neglected for many years before our ownership and reached the stage where safe passage for vehicles was becoming difficult. Visibility for pedestrians was greatly reduced with obvious safety implications.

“These are fairly typical road hedges and not an area of outstanding natural beauty or wildlife conservation area.

“The decision to cut the hedge was at the request of residents and the parish council following a recent consultation meeting. It is also a legal obligation to maintain hedges on a public highway.

“The hedges have been returned to their original height and in fact would not have got past this height with correct maintenance. Cutting the hedge will increase growth and produce a thicker hedge. In time this will improve the habitat for wildlife and flowers.

“We have invested significant sums to increase the biodiversity of the golf club as a whole and keep the local community involved in the ongoing improvement works.”

Nigel Corbett, of nearby Bonners Leaze Farm, added: “The hedges which surround the club have been very badly neglected.

“They have been encroaching on the roads and a point had been reached in places where two vehicles were unable to pass.

“The owners, as part of an enormous investment programme, are fulfilling their obligation to remove encroaching vegetation on a highway.”