CAMPAIGNERS pressing for greater controls at Newtown National Nature Reserve have been given support by a top scientist and author who grew up on the Isle of Wight.

Gerald Wells, a specialist in BSE, known as Mad Cow Disease, also has an interest in birds, and as well as the 100-plus scientific publications that bear his name, he has also written about birds in Herefordshire, where he currently lives.

He believes Newtown should have greater warden controls and restricted access areas to protect endangered species, and is lending his support to the Keep Newtown for the Birds campaign.

However the Isle of Wight National Trust, which looks after Newtown, has repeatedly assured the public that the priority at the reserve is the wildlife, and that there has been no dramatic increase in visitor numbers in recent years.

Mr Wells questioned whether the National Trust were the most appropriate custodians as their motivation was 'financial'.

He said: "I concur with the view that much more is needed, including more restricted access (possibly permit controlled), restricted marine access and stricter controls on landing."

Tony Tutton, general manager of the Isle of Wight National Trust, said: "Our absolute priority is – and always has been – to ensure wildlife can thrive at this special habitat.

"As a charity set up primarily to give people access to places of natural beauty, it's very important to us that visitors can continue to enjoy Newtown, and learn about the work we do to manage the reserve.

"Newtown continues to be a quiet backwater and has seen no dramatic increase in visitor numbers in recent years. On-site resources are extremely minimal and unlikely to ever attract a large number of visitors on a daily basis.

"Newtown is open countryside so footfall can't be restricted, but the car park is small and we run a limited programme of low-key activities designed to help people understand how to care for wildlife."

Among the measures taken recently are 'No Landing' signs around the harbour to protect areas of saltmarsh, the cordoning off of an area of shingle spit to help protect rare shingle plants and reduce disturbance to birds that might nest there.