CAMPAIGNERS have accused a developer of flouting environmental rules by starting work on the £1million revamp of Basildon Golf Course.

Diggers and trucks moved on to the course, off Clayhill Road, yesterday morning, and started digging up part of the putting green.

In July, Natural England said the developer needed to carry out a protected species survey and apply for a licence before work could start – something Basildon Golf Centre has yet to do.

Friends of Basildon Golf Course, who oppose the centre’s plans to use about 470,000 tonnes of building spoil to reshape the golf course, fear the company is going ahead regardless.

But Basildon Council said the work being carried out was preparatory and perfectly legal.

Police attended the site yesterday after being contacted by friends’ chairman Mick Toomer and John Schofield, county councillor for Westley Heights and a member of the police authority in the area.

Mr Schofield said: “Police were down there for about five hours.

“Their analysis is police may well pursue a prosecution in time after expert evidence has been gathered, but it’s not something teams of officers are swarming into today.”

The move came just a day before the Friends of Basildon Golf Course is due to meet Basildon Council in the High Court of Appeal, in London, to contest the legality of the whole scheme.

The developer won planning permission for the revamp in 2007 from Basildon Council.

However, the campaigners say bringing so much rubble to the site will ruin the environment for wildlife.

They argue the work will kill great crested newts, a protected species.

Two weeks ago the Echo revealed the council had paid £47,000 to Basildon Golf Centre to tide the company over during the winter months while it waits for the outcome of the court case.

The company was planning to make ends meet by charging building firms to dump soil and rubble on the courseas part of the plan to recontour it.

Mr Toomer said: “This ecological vandalism is being funded by Basildon Council which is subsidisiang Basildon Golf Centre with ratepayers’ money.”

But the council insisted the work yesterday was all above board.

Gary Edwards, head of streetscene and leisure services at the council, said: “A small amount of preparatory work has been undertaken at Basildon Golf Course, at the location of the new driving range. This work is perfectly legal and does not contravene any ongoing court proceedings.”

Ron Maydon, managing director for Basildon Golf Club, said: “We are acting within the rules and regulations as set out within our planning permission.”