ANOTHER battle is being fought and another petition has been launched over a controversial, overgrown island on Ledbury bypass which has been described as "an accident waiting to happen".

It is the second petition in less than a year which has been compiled by local residents, who are concerned about the maintenance of the traffic island at the Lower Road junction.

But this time residents fear that work being planned will be too drastic and harmful to wildlife.

Local residents living near the traffic island by the Lower Road junction still want the island kept neat and tidy, so people can cross the bypass safely without their sight being obstructed by undergrowth.

Following talks with a veteran town councillor, they are worried that all the trees and greenery could be stripped away, which could be harmful to wildlife and especially birds during the nesting season.

Resident Margaret Johnson said: "It's not what we want; birds will be nesting soon. We don't want the greenery pulled out; we just want it nice and tidy."

Mrs Johnson described the number of birds visiting the island, which is close to the Riverside Walk beauty spot, as "remarkable".

A 70-signature petition, to be handed in to Herefordshire Council, calls for the island to be properly maintained but not for the greenery to be removed.

Cllr Keith Francis, the town councillor contacted by the residents, said: "It's possible that some trees could be taken down, but nothing has been formally discussed"

The licence for bypass island maintenance has been passed on by Herefordshire Council to the town council, who in turn find sponsors for the islands.

The town council is currently in the process of seeking a new sponsor for the Lower Road junction island, and Cllr Francis said "there are a number of companies looking at taking it on".

But whoever takes on the island must come up with a plan that is acceptable to the town council.

Cllr Francis said: "Any company taking it on will need to come up with a maintenance plan."

Last year's petition about the traffic island was all about road safety.

Mrs Johnson at the time described the overgrown island as "an accident waiting to happen".

And there had been at least one accident there.

She said: "An old man was knocked off his bike there and taken to hospital with bruising. That was not a major accident, but it's going to happen."