THE vice-chairman of Somerset County Council is being investigated by the police over allegations he damaged a known water vole habitat in his village.

Mark Keating is the councillor for the Coker division on the county council, and represents the council at civic functions as vice-chair since he was elected to the post in May.

Outside of his council role, Mr Keating has brought forward plans for 35 new houses in his home village of Haselbury Plucknett – plans which have proved unpopular with local residents.

The parish council has accused Mr Keating of cutting verges near the proposed development site to make it more likely the homes would be approved – and in doing so “destroyed” the water voles’ habitat.

Mr Keating has branded the allegations “wholly unfounded and fundamentally misleading”, and said he was helping the police with their enquiries.

Chris Simmonds, chairman of Haselbury Plucknett Parish Council, accused Mr Keating of “an act of wanton vandalism” in a statement published on South Somerset District Council’s online planning portal.

He said: “On May 29 the applicant [Mr Keating] deliberately destroyed the water vole habitat alongside the stream in Claycastle.

“This was a premeditated attempt to pervert the course of this application by killing a protective mammal.

“This village prides itself in the biodiversity of its verges, waterways and open spaces. We will not be bullied into excepting standards of this sort of behaviour, for personal gain, by anyone.”

Resident William Hunt – an ardent opponent of the proposed development – claimed the “destruction” was not on property owned by Mr Keating, and said the village was united in opposition to the development.

He said: “The planning application is being universally objected to by the parish council and by the parishioners. Currently there are more than 150 letters of objection [on the district council’s website] and no support whatsoever.”

Mr Keating has denied the allegations against him, and claims both he and his wife had been physically threatened in separate incidents in the last few months.

He said: “I am aware of a range of allegations which I consider wholly unfounded and fundamentally misleading.

“I have personally reported to the police, an incident in Haselbury Plucknett at the end of May where my wife was physically threatened and left quite shaken.

“There was a separate incident where I myself was subjected to verbal abuse and also physically threatened.

“A formal statement has been given by myself to the police who are continuing with their investigation. I don’t feel it would be appropriate for me to comment further at this time.”

A police spokesman said: “We’re investigating a report damage has been caused to a known water vole habitat in the Crewkerne area.

“Disturbing the habitats of water voles is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Enquiries are ongoing.”

The county council said it would not be taking any action against Mr Keating while the police investigation was ongoing (such as suspending him from his vice-chairmanship).

A spokesperson said: “Any formal complaints about a county councillor’s conduct in their role as a county councillor would be considered under our complaints authority’s complaints policy.”

The district council is expected to make a decision on Mr Keating’s plans in the coming weeks.

If you have any information which can help the police with their enquiries, call 101 and quote crime reference number 5219121845.