Protected Brixham bats get considered in housing plans

By PRSD, on Tuesday, December 30, 2008

posted by Cptn

A proposed new housing development in Brixham has been put on hold after Natural England raised fears for the habitat of the protected horseshoe bat. But Cllr Roger Carter isn’t happy, asking “Aren’t human beings a protected species as well?”

Go bats go batty! Or as the Herald Express would have it: “Agency Accused of Putting Bats Before People”.

It seems Natural England has opposed a housing development in Brixham because of the impact it would have on the greater horseshoe bats. And as the paper says, ‘the bat is protected under law and Natural England as the statutory conservation body has a duty to protect it’.

David Appleton, conservation officer for Natural England, told the paper: “The greater horsehoe bat is a rare species and South Devon is the most important area of England for it.

“We have objected on the grounds that it might impact on the population of the bats and we don’t consider the level of survey work done at the site to be sufficient.”

Seems fair enough.

But hold on, the developer says this is an innovative housing development. The building will be ‘four storeys high’, with ‘a modern design’ and have ‘solar panels’, which may go some way to ‘heat the indoor swimming pool, gym and games room’. Still, communing with nature would be possible from the terrace. Who wouldn’t call that innovative?

The council gave the development conditional planning approval, subject to the developers reaching an agreement with Natural England. But Cllr Roger Carter is unhappy. He told the Herald Express: “It is all very well Natural England objecting but have they been to see the site?

“Aren’t human beings a protected species as well?”

Er, no Roger, they aren’t, not even ones which live in apartment buildings which include swimming pools, gyms and a games room.

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Siobhan T

I disagree with the article that it would drive the bats away. Mr Griggs have done a huge amount of Eco surveys, making sure everything is ok and not affecting any of the wildlife. He cares about the animals and their environment.

The cabins may sound big but in reality, they won't be so big that it'd affect the bats.

You don't know what the land is like unless you have visited it, when you see it, you can see that it is very much so big enough for both humans and wildlife and the cabins.

I wouldnt exactly call 12 cabins a housing development. I mean, look at where Dolphin Camp used to be, was a decent area now ruined by concrete houses. At least the cabins are making an effort to be environmentally friendly

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