Police confirm no badger setts have been disrupted by the Carbis Bay Hotel development
An investigation was carried out following concerns about local wildlife
Police have carried out an investigation following claims a badger sett had been 'disrupted' by development works in Carbis Bay.
Campaigners raised concerns last week about the works being carried out at the hotel that will host the G7 summit in June.
Officers have now completed their enquiries following reports of Protection of Badgers Act offences.
They say no badger sett was found on the Carbis Bay Hotel site and no wildlife offences have been committed.
“Officers attended the site under development at Carbis Bay Hotel on 18th March 2021.
"We were accompanied by the Cornwall Council county ecologist and a representative from the Cornwall Badger Group with the permission of the landowner.
“A previous ecological survey dated 2015 indicated the presence of a badger sett at the site but this sett was removed at that time under licence from Natural England using the correct methods.”
PC Chris Collins, Rural Crime officer for Cornwall
Officers and partners discovered evidence of badgers in the locality but no evidence of badger setts or activity on the ground under development could be found.
It has been confirmed that no wildlife crime offences have been identified in relation to these allegations.
In a statement last week, the Carbis Bay Hotel said: “Part of our long-standing plans for the estate included clearing a small self-seeded scrubland area to the side of the hotel, and work on this area started several years ago. We can confirm this was not ancient woodland and there are no badger sets on this piece of land.
“We are working closely with a local landscaping team to increase planting in this area replacing the scrubland with a plethora of trees and plants more suited to the coastal environment."
They added: “Carbis Bay Estate is committed to sustainability, and dedicated to protecting the environment now, and for generations to come.”