CAMPAIGNERS have warned the rare Small Blue Butterfly could become extinct if plans for a new outlet on the outskirts of Workington are approved.

Richard Pratt, the Archdeacon of West Cumberland, has urged Allerdale council to refuse permission to build on the 1.61-hectare land next to Caspian, off Prince’s Way and Derwent Drive.

Andrew Streeter, of Port Derwent Properties Ltd in West Sussex, wants to build a commercial development with mixed retail, food and hot food takeaway.

However, Butterfly Conservation Cumbria, said this is a pollination area and is used as a corridor by many wildlife species.

Dr Pratt provided the planning officers with recording sheets detailing sightings of different species of butterflies.

He said: “I have walked up and down this corridor many times in the past five years, recording butterflies and especially the Small Blue. The corridor comprises the land to the east and west of the railway and connects important populations of this rare butterfly to the north and south of it – so that building on it will isolate them and lead to the extinction of the butterfly in Workington.

“I realise that this must seem like marginal and possibly even rather untidy land and that there is a desire to smarten it up. But the Small Blue needs this marginal land where the kidney vetch (its food plant) can thrive. The West coast of Cumbria is one of the few places where there are Small Blues and whilst recording I have met a number of people who have travelled here from a hundred or more miles away to see them.”

He pleaded with planners to reject the application. He said: “There are plenty of fast food outlets in Workington and very small numbers of this butterfly. Other rare and endangered butterflies too will be affected: Dingy Skipper, Wall and Small Heath. Please could we value what we have, value something which – rather surprisingly – does well on the waste ground and slag heaps of our history?”

Steve Doyle, of Butterfly Conservation Cumbria, said permission to build a KFC nearby had already had damaged the corridor used by the rare butterfly.

He said: “Now plans are laid to destroy another huge chunk of the corridor. In addition the tree/hedge screen between that corridor and the road past Morrisons appears to be going to be felled and that will also damage the character of that area.”

A decision on the application is expected to be made soon by Allerdale council.

The applicant has been contacted for comment.