Following the fracas over the badger incident, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust has now sent in a very comprehensive response to the latest proposals for the pub. They have once again submitted a holding application based on the following points.
There should be a further survey for bats. Apparently, the survey commissioned by the owners was taken when bats would have been hibernating and, it seems, small numbers of bats can be hard to detect.
The survey also reported that no active birds' nests were found. But of course at that time of year, birds would not have been nesting anyway!
The Trust further recommends that a scoping assessment should be carried out to confirm the presence/ absence of great crested newts. Triturus cristatus, as it is more formally known, is a protected species and it seems that there may be small ponds in the area where these little creatures might be in residence.
In the event that the application is approved, the following measures should be taken
- Provision of method statements for badgers, bats and nesting birds
- Bird nest boxes/ features should be provided in each house and bat features in at least two
- There should be a detailed landscaping/ planting plan including tree planting
We read with amusement that, in the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust letter on the SBC website, it says "As the building does have recent access holes, as a result of vandalism, there may be the potential for birds to start using the building in the future".
ReplyDeleteI bet the owners wish that the roof had not been "vandalised". Just as the bats have left, the birds will be moving in!
Whatever blunder next? The Keystone Cops spring to mind when we think of the owners!
Well said!
ReplyDeleteAnd we've just noticed that the vandalism continues with one of the downstairs windows having been broken within the past day or so. Another coincidence? The owners predicted in their planning application that the pub might fall into "decline and decay". Funny how these things have a habit of coming to pass.
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