VILLAGERS in Slaughterford are fighting a war of attrition against developers, who threaten to destroy the fragile ecological habitat of its mill a haven to some of Britain's most endangered creatures.

Slaughterford's paper mill, which is sited on the River By Brook, is home to a protected colony of rare Lesser Horse Shoe Bats. Protesters say the quality of the class A water also provides the perfect habitat for endangered White Clawed Crayfish, who's numbers have rapidly declined in the UK in recent years.

Countryside Properties own the site, but has lost six planning applications and appeals to develop the site for housing in the past seven years.

But villagers fear the developers' latest proposals to cut down trees at the site, which is in a conservation area, is a smokescreen for another planning application for houses.

Addressing North Wilts District Council's planning and developing committee, last Wednesday, Biddestone and Slaughterford parish councillor Alison Butler, said: "Slaughterford is internationally recognised as having a unique bio-diversity.

"The paper mill is used by at least 13 globally threatened or declining species, but for years Countryside Properties' paid experts have systematically under reported the diversity of wildlife at the site.

"The trees from an integral part of the habitat for the areas ecology above and below water.

"It is hard for us to fully appreciate the impact that 'cutting down a few trees' can have on the complex and fragile environment that is home to these species."

Stephen Todd, who has lived in the village for four-and-a-half years, said:"This is a case of corporate bullying at its heart, which endangers the rights of protected species living on the site.

"Luckily this particular village has the resolve, over a period of years, to spend hundreds of thousands of hours every years fighting these plans.

"How many more times is reasonable for a company to put a small community through this. It's a war of attrition."

In the latest application the developers have applied to cut down 26 six trees at the site, which is within the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and consists of a dozen buildings.

But the village's 35 residents, who are united in their defiance against the developers, say the company wants to remove the trees because they have caused problems in previous planning applications.

Mr Todd, said: "They are systematically working through all the potential obstacles to future planning applications."

The number of native white-clawed crayfish has declined rapidly in the UK in recent years due to the threat of invading Signal Crayfish, which carry a disease deadly to the indigenous species. The creatures have also suffered from the destruction and fragmentation of suitable habitats.