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For the discovery of a colony of endangered Great Crested Newts in a nearby pond last week is the latest setback in the development of the Westbury Homes housing estate that some are saying is `jinxed'. The amphibious little reptiles are protected by European law and cannot be moved without a licence. And as the pond dwellers are all in hibernation at the moment, that licence will only be granted in spring when the newts rise and shine. Houses in the estate are selling in the region of £125 000 and the newts have joined the queue in a long list of complaints from residents - including shoddy workmanship - against the developers, Westbury Homes. Much of the cold-blooded fury also is aimed at the Wokingham District Council, whom residents say should have been aware of the newts and withheld permission to build. Says June Macklin: "The council clearly did not survey the land properly in the first place. Planning permission should never have been granted." However, the council and the developers say they were caught on the hop as surveys did not include finding rare reptiles. Says a Council spokesman: "The newts unfortunately do not stand around and wave at you. It was only by chance that they were found at all, and we will ensure they can be moved in the spring." Westbury Homes also deny claims of shoddy workmanship. According to a spokesman they were 'not unhappy' with the Winnersh development. "With new buildings there are always problems and there is nothing to suggest there has been bad construction here." |