THE government agency sponsoring plans for the Northern Quarter near Cinderford has come under fire over the relocation of newts on the site.

The Homes and Communities Agency has been given the go-ahead by Natural England, the public body responsible for protecting the environment, to relocate the amphibians as part of the £100 million regeneration project.

But campaign group the Dean Natural Alliance says the move could be very stressful for the protected newts.

David Dewsbury, the county recorder for amphibians and reptiles, has been studying great crested newts for many years and said: "It is unbelievable that the Homes and Community Agency, who should be setting the highest of standards, is actively moving great crested newts (GCN) when the mitigation area delegated to be their new home, has not even been prepared.

"In fact they are busily searching this new area to move GCN ahead of felling operations. It appears that from the two sites GCN are being released into a considerably reduced area near the breeding ponds, an area already populated with GCN.

"At this time of year GCN are preparing to hibernate. The disturbance and translocation from the hibernation spots they have chosen to a new and now overcrowded area, is likely to be very stressful for them at this vulnerable time, just before hibernation."

The Dean Natural Alliance is opposed to the Cinderford Northern Quarter and claims that the Forest Council's biodiversity mitigation plan is unworkable because it would take at least 15 years to establish a properly formed habitat.

A spokesman for the Homes and Communities Agency said: "We are committed to taking good care of the forest and its wildlife, while creating sustainable employment, skills, amenities and opportunities for local people and businesses at the Northern Quarter site.

"The work taking place on the site is entirely compliant with a European Protected Species licence granted by Natural England. "As a government body, we are committed to ensuring that these standards are maintained as part of our commitment to regenerating this area."

People with questions about technical aspects of the work can contact (consultants) Parsons Brinckerhoff on 07563 700 404.

The DNA is calling for the Secretary of State for Communities to intervene, hold a public inquiry and decide the planning application. It has a petition on the website 38 degrees.