By Robin Jones
MELKSHAM Town have been told that they cannot play at their new £5m ground for another season – because they might disturb a colony of rare newts!
The Toolstation Western Premier outfit played what they thought would be their last home game at The Conigre, because they were planning to move to a new state-oft-he-art stadium at Woolmore Farm near Melksham Oak Community School, pictured.
They did not carry out regular maintenance work on the old ground, parts of which have begun to fall into decay.
But ecological surveyors for Wiltshire County Council found that a colony of great crested newts were living at the site of the proposed Melksham Community Campus stadium, which was due to be laid out with 11 football and four rugby pitches, for Melksham RFC, who share The Conigre.
The species of newt is legally protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and Conservation Regulations, and it is an offence to disturb their habitat.
Regulations state the newts can be moved, provided that there are five consecutive days of warm weather beforehand.
Moving of the newts to a new home has now begun and the council has promised financial aid to repair The Conigre – the club's home since 1926.
Town chairman Dave Wiltshire said: “It has left us with egg on our faces to an extent as we'd already had had our farewell to the ground and that attracted so many people.
“But we understand why it has been delayed and we are grateful that Wiltshire Council is doing so much for us.”
