Natural England has blocked Northumberland County Council's plans to relocate two badger setts that have been plaguing a cemetery for the past two years.
The animals have been causing damage to the surface of graves and other grassed areas within Berwick's Tweedmouth Cemetery with their foraging activity, causing significant local concern.
Council officers worked with ecology experts to carry out survey work in connection with an application to Natural England for a license to relocate the badger setts - but it was turned down.
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Natural England felt that the "exclusion of the badgers and closure of the two active setts would have a significant impact on the badgers, and is not considered proportionate to the level of damage they are currently causing."
In August, Berwick MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan called on Natural England to reconsider their position and work with the council to move the set. The problem had already been ongoing for 18 months at that time.
Locals have been campaigning for action for some time, with a petition set up and residents organising via a Facebook group.
County councillor Isabel Hunter, who represents Berwick West and Ord, has family buried in the cemetery including her mother - and branded decision "frustrating."
She said: "I've been dealing with badgers since I got re-elected last May. We don't want them culled - in a nice world we would just pick them up and move them somewhere they can have a nice happy life.
"It's very frustrating. I've got family members down there. I was there last summer and it was really nasty what they had done to one of the graves. If I had been a member of the family I would have been really upset.
"The council leader, Glen Sanderson, has been very supportive and tried to give us as much help as he can. We've ticked every box and had the MP involved, we've tried all the avenues we can.
"I just feel very frustrated, because it's a very difficult one."
Ground penetrating radar equipment has been used to determine the location and extent of the underground tunnels the badger sets are made up of. The analysis has found no risk to buried remains at a subterranean level from the badgers.
Despite this, county councillor John Riddle, cabinet member for local services, said he too was disappointed with Natural England's decision.
He said: "This has been an ongoing and complex situation and we are trying all we can to resolve the issue – which we know has caused concern and distress locally.
“We are very disappointed a licence to relocate the setts has been turned down by Natural England, as we agreed with residents’ wishes to remove them from the cemetery."
However, Natural England did give the go-ahead for badger-proof fencing to be installed. The council say it can be installed without causing "any significant problems" to the look of the cemetery.
Coun Hunter was hopeful the proposal would be successful, but added she was prepared to return to Natural England if the problem persisted.
She said: "I'm a bit unsure personally as to whether the fencing will stop the badgers, because they're good tunnellers.
"I don't know what it's going to look like. I'm hoping they can put a green one in and it will be camouflaged. If that doesn't work we will then have to go back and 'say what are you going to come up with next?'"
Coun Riddle added: "We will progress with the fence and look to take any other measures we can to try and reduce the damage they are causing within the cemetery and to closely monitor the site.”
Residents have also been warned not to take the matter into their own hands - badgers and their setts are protected under law, making it an offence to intentionally attempt to kill, injure or trap one, or interfere with their habitats.
A spokesperson for Natural England said: “Officers from our Wildlife Licensing Service team advised the Council that closing the sett down would not be a suitable solution, as the badgers would almost certainly move to a site very close to the original sett and excavate a new one.
“We understand how distressing it must be to see badgers causing damage to the cemetery. The protective barrier offers a solution to discourage them from accessing and foraging at the site, while balancing the needs of local people.”
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