A WARRINGTON wildlife haven has lost its nature conservation status after landowners moved the bulldozers in.

As reported in the Guardian, development company Satnams Planning Services Ltd, ploughed up Radley Common, near Houghton Green, in February.

But their actions had such a detrimental impact on the green oasis, the council has had to withdraw the scrubland as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation. It was only given this status a few weeks ago by the council's environment committee due to the variety of birds and insects which made it their home.

There had already been a legal battle between Satnams and the council as the company was intent on taking the authority to the High Court over the SINC designation the first judicial review of its kind on such wildlife site systems.

A spokesman for the borough council said: "We were confident of its position, its procedures and that the decision would not have been overturned.

"However, a High Court appearance brings with it the risk of losing and incurring heavy legal costs, ultimately being paid by the taxpayer, in order to defend a now much-degraded wildlife site. It was felt that it was best simply to withdraw the designation of the site."

Clr John Joyce, chairman of the environmental services committee, said: "The Radley Common site is one of two SINCs which has been subject to perceived 'inappropriate management' so far this year. Both are owned by landowners who have development aspirations for their land.

"If the continuing decline in our wildlife is to be prevented, more must be done to protect these sites."

The council now plans to lobby the Government in a bid to preserve other green spaces.