A WILDLIFE campaigner fears irreparable damage could be caused to badgers due to the proposed development in the town as she raises concerns about the current Cheshire cull.

Jane Cullen, who chairs the Wirral and Cheshire Badger Group, shared her concerns following the Government’s decision to grant a licence for a badger cull in the county.

Jane, who was named as a Warrington Guardian Inspiration Award winner in 2015, said: “Culling will only spread as the years go on unless we have a change in Government policy.

“Badger culling will be expanded but I live in hope of a change in policy.”

The county is one of 11 new areas given Government approval for a cull in a bid to curb the spread of tuberculosis to cattle.

But Jane strongly believes this is not the solution and has vowed to keep fighting to help bring about a change in policy.

She said: “We can’t talk about the science as that is already out there for the world to see and it is ignored.

“It gets to a point where you are repeating yourself but people have stopped listening.

“People who should be listening are choosing to ignore it – wiping out the badger populations isn’t solving the problem.”

Fears over the ‘disappearing’ countryside could also have detrimental effect on the wildlife in the area.

She said: “We are quite active in Warrington because of the badgers in and around the area.

“They will be affected by the new bridge and by the proposed development in the south.

“There is just no getting away from that. It’s quite depressing.

“I do not know how they can be accommodated. They still remain protected.

“Badger persecution has risen in Cheshire and I am hearing more and more reports of illegal persecution.

“That is a grave concern of ours and that why the group was formed in the first place.”

Visit wcbg.org.uk.