BATTLE lines have been drawn up by wildlife experts determined to protect sensitive Poole heathland from development.

Talbot Village Trust recently won planning permission to develop land south of Wallisdown Road, adjacent to heathland.

Natural England, the government’s adviser on the environment, and the RSPB are among those fighting to protect the heath from a proposed 378 homes and 450 student units.

Poole planners approved the plans after they found that mitigation put forward by the trust – a cat proof fence and investment of £1.2 million as well as 26 acres of farmland converted to heath – was enough to overcome objections.

But nature conservationists say the no-build zone within 400 metres of internationally protected heathland is sacrosanct and its importance to wildlife “beyond question”.

They have bolstered opposition from residents and Bournemouth council by urging the government to call the application in for a public enquiry.

Conservationists believed this was a fight they had won in 2007 when Borough of Poole joined other local authorities in signing up to an Interim Planning Framework.

Natural England’s advice was that for housing developments within 400m of a designated heath, it was not possible to be certain that adverse effects could be avoided or alleviated.

“This we welcomed as a brave and positive move on behalf of the local authorities,” said Renny Henderson, senior conservation officer for the RSPB in the south-west.

“But now the Borough of Poole appears to be driving a coach and horses through the advice we thought had been accepted.”

He said: “We are not confident that the proposed ‘cat proof’ fences will keep cats out. Installing fire hydrants won’t stop fires. And where’s the evidence that providing a little additional new open space for the residents will divert the increased recreational pressure from the adjacent heath?

“We feel that both the applicant and, in turn, the local council has failed to demonstrate that this development will not harm Talbot Heath and we genuinely fear for the future.”

Nick Squirrel, Natural England conservation adviser, said: “About 50 per cent of the people on these heaths are coming from within 400m distance.”

People would use the nearest open space to exercise a dog or for recreation, such as harmful mountain biking and motorbike scrambling, and it was difficult to divert them elsewhere.

“The only solution is to say we don’t want any more residential units in that area,” he said.

They had set up the Dorset Dogs Group with a code of practice for canine walkers, offering advice such as keeping dogs on leads when birds are nesting and picking up poo.

But cats were impossible to control and wreaked the most havoc. “A cat can have a big impact on lizards. They have nowhere else to go. And on breeding birds. Dartford warblers and nightjars are very vulnerable.

“We know they bring in Dartford warblers, there has been research on Talbot Heath. Dartford warbler rings have been found in cat trays. We know they eat them,” he said.

Although Talbot Village Trust was prepared to build a cat-proof fence, he questioned how long it would be maintained and said new heathland could be “scrappy” and unable to support heathland species.

Mr Squirrel said: “This is a new government and they are writing new rules. We just need to make sure they are aware of the requirements of the Habitat Regulations.

“As long as they take that properly into account, I don’t think we have any concerns.”