RAIL contractors have been accused of causing "catastrophic disturbance" to wildlife near Clapham and Bentham

Residents living near the Lancaster to Leeds railway line claim safety work to ensure the track edge is free of vegetation breaks Network Rail's own pledge to protect the environment.

They say the programme of tree felling and undergrowth clearance is being carried out at the wrong time of year, disturbing kingfishers, otters and bats.

Sue Cowgill, of Keasden, said: "Whilst no-one would dispute the necessity for ensuring safety for both workers and passengers by improving sight lines and creating trip free zones close to the lines, is it consistent with Network Rail's stated environment policy, let alone legal, for this work to be undertaken whilst birds, bats and mammals are still breeding and may well have dependent offspring?

"Between Clapham Station and Melling Tunnel the railway line follows the course of the River Lune, a major tributary and focus for Environment Agency-backed biodiversity enhancement.

"Otter have recently been sighted in becks feeding the Wenning for the first time in nearly 50 years. Kingfishers nest along the banks, bats abound, the area is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the line skirts a Site of Special Scientific Interest to the west of Clapham Station."

Network Rail's environmental policy states that it aims to achieve environmental excellence "by ensuring protected heritage features and habitats under our care make a positive contribution to the quality of life in this country."

The company says it is committed to integrating "environmental management with the safe and efficient operation of the railway, treating all legal obligations as the minimum standard." It adds that the firm carries out environmental assessments on the impact of its work to keep disruption to a minimum.

But Sue continued: "If this stretch of embankment is not a 'protected heritage feature and environment' then what is?

"How is the removal of all vegetation for six metres each side of the rails at this time of year consistent with 'reducing adverse impacts to a practicable minimum' given the inevitable destruction of habitat on the embankment itself and the catastrophic disturbance from the machinery being used (the noise of which is horrendous) to wildlife along the river.

"Given the presence of otter, kingfisher and bats alone how is such reckless disturbance legal?"

Work on the six metre strip clears the railway line at either side of woody undergrowth and overhanging trees which could compromise safety.

Keith Lumley, spokesman for Network Rail, denied it was the breeding season - a fact contested by Terry Sloan, of the Lancaster division of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, which covers Clapham.

"Saying that it is not the breeding season just shows how ignorant of wildlife issues Network Rail are," he said. "Of course it is nesting time. I am concerned about this and have been in touch with English Nature. I think there is likely to be disturbance to nesting boxes at a sensitive time of year. Clearly tree management has to go ahead, but I would be very interested to see their survey if they would let me."

Mr Lumley added: "We do this work so train drivers have clear sighting of the signals and people working on the line can get out of the way of trains and also, although it's a bit of a national joke now, to remove leaves on the line which is a real problem.

"The contractors, H W Martin, employ tree experts and they know the ins and outs of the 1981 Countryside and Wildlife Act.

"We have to do the work, there's no two ways about it. It might seem to a lay person that we are environmental vandals, but we are doing it in an environmentally friendly way, recognising all the acts and protected species.

"We do as much as we can to keep disturbance to a minimum. There is no problem as far as we can see at doing this work at this time of year."