Lauren's bid to save deer in Felpham

Lauren Betsworth has launched a petition aimed at ensuring the deer that live on a site about to be developed for housing are protected. She has attracted 120 signatures from her neighbours and school friends in the first few days.

Lauren has lived on the A259 Flansham Lane all her life. The fields on the opposite side of the road are about to be developed.

They will eventually be used for 700 homes to be built by Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes and also for part of the Bognor Regis relief road.

But Lauren, who attends Felpham Community College, said it was important to protect the site's wild animals.

Deer in particular had become more visible since the trees surrounding the site were chopped down to make way for housing. A family of five deer had once been seen. Sightings of the animals were occuring about twice a week during the past couple of months.

"The animals have always lived there and not had to put up with anything like this before," said Lauren.

"Many of them will not survive the building work. If Barratts will not listen, they will be killing innocent animals. If the deer are not going to be around, then it is not going to be very nice here.

"It's good to see them. You don't very often get the chance to see them this close to a town."

There had also been rabbits and foxes on the land as well as different species of birds in the trees, she added.

She intends to send her petition to Bognor Regis and Littlehampton MP Nick Gibb as well as to Barratt Homes.

The West Sussex Wildlife Protection Group has raised concerns with Arun District Council about the effects on wildlife of the proposed development.

It has told the district council that several fox earths appear on the site and badgers are moving just north of it.

Because badgers are protected animals, clearance work must take place outside the nesting season, the group comments.

It has called for a condition to be attached to any planning permission which requires the developer to ensure fox earths are closed before heavy digging takes place and there are no badgers, foxes or cubs underground.