A PLAN to create a conservation area for great crested nuewts in a Worcestershire village has come under fire from some Wychavon district councillors.

Concerns about excavated materials being brought into Bradley Green were raised at a meeting to discuss whether an agricultural field could be turned into ponds to house the newts.

The applicant Mongoose Ltd wants to move the protected species from the Corbett Business Park in Bromsgrove to the field at Cider Mill Lane, off Church Road, Bradley Green.

The move would see three ponds created in the 1.5- hectare (3.7 acres) site and the excavated materials would be used to cover the bottom of the ponds.

Councillor Audrey Steel said she was worried about what would be transported into the area.

She said: "The Bradley Green area already has great crested newts.

"I have great difficulty with excavated materials, knowing where they come from. The site at Bromsgrove is totally toxic and contaminated and I'm very concerned about the influx of materials."

Despite the worries, councillors agreed to delegate approval to head of planning.