THE UNEPECTED clearance of land off Leadon Way has led to speculation homes could be built.

And concerns have also been raised about the loss of a wildlife haven.

Herefordshire Council said there are no planning applications at present concerning the land, close to Hazle Close on the Deer Park estate, and off the Ledbury bypass.

However, as it is private land which has been cleared, no regulations at all have been breached.

Before the clearance, which involved branches and greenery being piled up into a large bonfire, the area was effectively a wild 'buffer' area on the edge of the Deer Park estate: about 150 metres long and 50 metres wide.

Members of the county's planning committee, and Emma Holton, ward councillor for Ledbury South, went on a site visit on Wednesday.

Cllr Holton said: "We are going to contact the landowner and find out what is going on. This seems highly unusual."

The area has been fenced off and private property signs put in place.

A Herefordshire Council spokesman said: "We are not in a position to comment about the land clearance. It is private land; there is currently no planning application for the land and no environmental restrictions on protecting the shrubbery.

"Therefore this is a private matter."

Some Ledbury people, however, have reacted with dismay on social media, such as on the Voice of Ledbury site, on Facebook.

Ledbury resident Michelle Turner said: "It was a bit of a shock to see the wooded area on the bypass has been bulldozed.

"All the wildlife that inhabited that area for years has nowhere to go.

I just saw a woodpecker flying around the ground: and what about the hedgehogs' homes, just to name but a few of the species made homeless? It seems such a shame."

There has also been considerable speculation on social media that houses could be built there.

Claire Ellis said: "They had big machines in there and a smelly old bonfire burning away. I guess it's going to be used for house building."

The Reporter was trying to contact the landowner at the time of going to press.