Environmental protesters claim a breeding ground for sand martins has been wrecked after contractors have dug a huge ditch around the perimeter of the West Yorkshire tip as a security measure.
Waste Recycling Group (WRG), who operate the Welbeck sit
e, near Wakefield, are under pressure from the Environment Agency to improve security at the site after being found to be in breach of its permit to run the site.
But members of Residents Against Toxic Scheme (Rats) have accused the operators of panic measures and riding roughshod over local wildlife.
Rats president Paul Dainton said: "Once again those in charge of running the tip have shown a complete disregard for the surrounding environment.
"Not only is this ditch an absolute eyesore but it can only have done damage to the bird population."
Last month the Environment Agency contacted Rats confirming that WRG were in breach of it permit due to poor security.
Colin Fletcher, regional operations manager for WRG said: "Site security is an issue which is taken very seriously by WRG which is why we have taken these measures. We are also keen to minimise the impact of our activities, so we commissioned an ecological survey to investigate the potential impacts of the work. This survey confirmed that the excavation of the trench would not cause any harm to the local wildlife."
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