CONCERNS have been raised after a developer ripped out dozens of trees and imported an “enormous” mound of soil in rural woodland.

Villagers in Barley fear the work being undertaken in Boothman Wood exceeds the planning permission gran-ted for three log cabins.

However landowner Frank Wren said the 29 trees were removed as they were “unsafe” and in danger of blowing over due to a lack of soil.

According to Mr Wren they will be replaced by 1,500 new trees which will be planted using the soil currently making up the mound.

Permission for three log cabins to be used by fisher-men at ponds in the wood was granted by Pendle Council around four years ago.

But they have yet to be completed and villagers are “up in arms” after trees were removed and soil brought in during the last nine months.

The wood, in Barley New Road, is part of the Forest of Bowland, an Area of Out-standing Natural Beauty (AONB).

Barley with Wheatley Booth Parish Council fear long term plans to turn part of the site into a campsite will have a detrimental effect.

In a letter to Pendle Council, Derek Heap, chairman of the parish council, said: “Significant damage has been done to the woodland in the AONB demonstrating the developer’s consideration for the environment.”

Mr Wren, a former Brierfield councillor, described the villagers’ concerns as “ridiculous and unreasonable.”

He said he has applied for retrospective planning per-mission to put the soil back in.

He added: “It’s a silly carry on. It was a very unsafe woodland – that is why there is re-planting.

“I have fishermen coming from all over, so the wood-land has to be managed properly.

“But it’s not only tourism - we also have kingfishers, badgers and foxes since I have managed this woodland.”

The parish council is now urging Pendle Council to order the removal of the mound of soil and are calling for a geotechnical investigation.

Coun James Starkie, who represents Higham and Pendleside, has called for the issue to be discussed by Barrowford and Western Parishes Committee.

Kieran Howarth, Pendle Council’s development cont-rol manager, said: “The developer didn’t get permission to re-profile the land.

“We have asked the developer to apply for retrospective planning permission and their application is being considered.”