RESIDENTS protesting about the felling of trees on the Littlecombe site between Cam and Dursley have been told it is a small price to pay for the future prosperity of the development.

On Wednesday, work began on the latest phase of the plan that should eventually see over 600 homes and 1000 jobs brought to the site.

The work will involve the clean up and removal of the foundry sand tip where the trees are growing, which in turn will allow for the River Cam to be opened up.

However, in order for the foundry sand to be dug out, an area of woodland near to Cam Congregational Church, Upper Cam, will have to be cut down.

The tree felling has upset some nearby residents who claim that the area is home to a variety of wildlife.

In a letter to the Gazette, Cam resident Jill McFarland said: "Why is this happening when the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) said that significant existing landscape and wildlife features would stay?

"It forms a backdrop to the Congregational Church and a major landscape feature of this part of Cam."

Rupert Joseland, site surveyor for developers St Modwen, explained: "There is 200,000 cubic metres of contaminated sand on the artificial mound.

"Clearly, there is a risk of polluting the river if the sand is not treated properly."

Mr Joseland added that St Modwen had gained the approval of Stroud District Council to carry out the work and that the flora and fauna of the overall site would be improved in the long run.

The embankments would be stabilised, while certain trees of specific interest would remain.

SWRDA spokeswoman Alison Hollinshead also made it clear that the project was geared to benefiting the wildlife in the area.

"The new development will include much of the present landscape," she said. "A heath land will be created to support new wildlife habitats and native plants will also be added.

"There will be large-scale tree planting on both sides of the valley to improve the environment and this will also help to integrate the development into the surrounding landscape.

"The River Cam will be opened up and run through the development, where safe waterside pedestrian and cycle routes between Dursley and Cam will be created."