TV nature expert Chris Packham claims plans for a controversial treetop assault course in Hampshire is putting cash before wildlife.

And he has called for council bosses to look again at the proposal for a Go Ape site at a country park in Eastleigh.

The Springwatch presenter said the Go Ape site was going against a bio-diversity plan for the area, which he helped Eastleigh Borough Council compile.

Councillors on the Hedge End, West End and Botley local area committee last week voted nine to two in favour of the plan.

Chris said: “I think this is fast tracking funds into the council’s pocket. Wildlife works in long terms, it doesn’t work through terms of political office. This is someone putting cash into the pockets of a council.

“Which responsible councillor wants that as their legacy for the borough?”

Construction on the course is likely to start in the New Year, subject to the application being rubber stamped by the Liberal democrat controlled council.

Chris had spent much of his youth at the Itchen Valley Country Park and believed there were other sites that could have been used.

He said: “Me and my daughter go to one in France a lot, not owned by Go Ape but it’s the same sort of thing and we greatly enjoy it, but it’s in a place where there is no wildlife value whatsoever.

“The Itchen Valley Country Park is healthy for wildlife, it’s somewhere that people from the borough can go and enjoy wildlife and be educated as to that value.

“It’s disappointing that they have put this sort of resource in the same place, surely they could have put it in somewhere like Stoke Park, that must be in the borough.

“Stoke Park is a plantation desert, it’s got good local amenities, in my opinion that would be far more suitable.”

Eastleigh Borough Council hit back at Chris’ comments saying that the Go Ape application had been closely scrutinised and changes made as a result of the impact on wildlife.

A spokesperson for Eastleigh Borough Council said: “The Council’s work at the country park has significantly helped the wildlife in the area, including the recolonisation of otters on the Itchen, protection and growth of the water vole population, and management of the woodlands.

“All of which is to the benefit of wildflowers and butterflies, and we would not want to undermine what has been achieved.”

Ben Davies, Business Development Manager for Go Ape, said: “The Itchen Valley Country Park Go Ape proposal has taken into account the local bio-diversity and will implement appropriate measures that will minimise any effects and deliver habitat enhancements.”