New bat plan seeks to protect wildlife from urban expansion
14 species of bat live in Trowbridge and Westbury, and will now be protected from the negative impacts of local development
A new plan to protect the bat population of West Wiltshire from urban expansion has been published by Wiltshire Council.
At the council’s cabinet meeting on Tuesday, July 8, councillors discussed the new Trowbridge and Westbury Bat Mitigation Strategy, which is aimed at developers, consultants and planners.
Once adopted, the plan will give a policy reason for the council to turn down planning permission for new housing in specific areas, while forcing housing developers to pay towards bat protection in others.
But there was acknowledgement that government housebuilding rules might override any wildlife protection policy introduced by Wiltshire Council.
The meeting was told that the area surrounding Trowbridge and Westbury is of high importance for bats, supporting at least 14 of the 18 UK bat species, including four of the most rare – greater horseshoe, lesser horseshoe, Bechstein’s, and barbastelle bats.
Councillors were told the demolition of old buildings, artificial lighting, noise, pollution, and disturbance from human recreation – especially in woodland – can all have a negative effect on bats and their ability to roost, mate, and hunt.
A significant level of growth is expected around Trowbridge and Westbury over the next couple of years, including the construction of 2,600 homes to the south-east of Trowbridge for a mixed-use allocation at Ashton Park.
The bat strategy says: “the impacts on important bat populations and the provision of essential mitigation measures will need to be factored in when determining further allocations for housing in Trowbridge.”
In some designated habitats – known as bat sensitivity zones – planning permission is unlikely to be granted.
Two large bat sensitivity zones will be established east and west of the A350 between Trowbridge and Westbury.
In other areas, developers building up to 49 houses on a site will be expected to make a financial contribution of nearly £1,000 per unit towards bat protection, while developers building 50 or more houses on one site will be expected to provide a suitable alternative natural green space.
But during debate, there was consensus that government housing policy might override any environmental protections imposed by the council.
Council leader Ian Thorn summed up the policy as answering the question: “How can we manage the conflict between protecting the bats and building houses?”
But opposition leader Richard Clewer said: “Government policy is leaning away from the protection of species and towards the rapidity of building.
“I worry that we are going to see a massive loosening of protection of wildlife. My concern is that government policy will result in this strategy being pretty much made pointless.”
“I suspect we’re not far apart in our mutual concern,” replied Cllr Thorn.