A DEVELOPER has blamed 'trouble makers' after police were called to a building site in Dorset amid concerns about a badger sett.

Police attended the site at number 93 Lanehouse Rocks Road in Weymouth following concerns about wildlife after 30 trees were felled there last week.

Developer Betterment Properties has purchased the detached property, which includes an acre of land, and is clearing the site ahead of development.

The company has acknowledged the presence of a badger sett on site, but said it had sought advice about wildlife and was clearing the land in order to carry out pre-planning surveys.

Joe Saunders, director of Betterment Properties, said: "I can confirm the police attended the site merely as a matter of procedure following up on complaints they had received about the works from trouble makers.

"As everything was in order they were on site for less than ten minutes."

Weymouth & Portland Police said that officers had visited the site to make enquiries about the work.

A spokesman said: "Following concerns about a local development on Lanehouse Rocks Road, the local wildlife officer PC Bayliss attended along with two local PCSOs to confirm what work is being carried out.

"Please be assured that checks are currently being made and should you have any concerns please report through the correct channels."

A spokesman for Dorset Police added: "Officers attended a building site on Lanehouse Rocks Road in Weymouth on Tuesday February 16 2021 following a report of a badger sett in the area.

"Officers liaised with the managers of the site and established there was no disturbance around the sett. There were no offences identified."

Betterment Properties has not yet submitted a planning application for the site - however said it intends to submit an application this summer.

Dorset Council said it cannot act on the wildlife concerns due to a planning application not having been submitted.

A spokesman for the authority said: "There is no planning application on the site. The trees were not protected under a tree protection order. As such this is not a matter for Dorset Council."