Scott Evans, managing director of the Centurion Club, told the meeting: “We’ve changed the plan to accommodate all the sensitive areas and preserve many of the mature trees and the mature beech woodland that’s there.

“We’re committed to making this one of the best golf courses not only in the local area, but around the world. And that commitment doesn’t just stop at golf, that’s environmentally as well.”

Hull said the club had claimed “publicly the insects were not present in the wood, despite years of well documented records”.

“This scheme was just in the wrong place,” he added.

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