Bats in the barn for Audlem councillor

Local wildlife is not just driving developers batty. Bats have come home to roost for Audlem's own ward councillor Rachel Bailey.

When time ran out on plans to convert farm buildings to homes at her husband's Upper Lightwood Green Farm the councillor might have hoped the renewal to go through without a hitch.

But in these days of wildlife conservation, European directives and the National Planning Policy Framework, there are ecology and wildlife surveys to be undertaken first to determine the presence of any protected species and the potential for damage or destruction of valuable habitats.

Accordingly, bat activity surveys were conducted in derelict farm barns on August 13th and September 19th and 24th.

And bat detectives uncovered a maternity roost of Common pipistrelle bats in one of the barns and evidence of birds nesting in another.

Now a report to Cheshire East Council warns that a licence will need to be obtained from Natural England before any development can start, should permission be granted.

"An area must be set aside for the bats within the building and a method statement followed to ensure bats are not damaged or harmed during the renovation process," adds the ecological survey report from Shrewsbury-based Pierce Environment Ltd.

And ecologists warn that if birds start building nests in the spring any construction work will have to cease until young birds are hatched and leave the nests.

Full planning permission was granted in June 2007 to convert three barns into seven residential units, three detached garages, access roads, refuse collection bays and the demolition of other agricultural buildings.

Permission was renewed in 2010 and, with time about to run out, Mr Steven Bailey asked for a further extension. As ward councillor, Mrs Bailey has declared her interest and can take no part in the planning process.

The current application is already gone beyond the statutory limit for determination of 13 weeks, with the application having been lodged on June 24th this year.

It is currently scheduled for a committee hearing on November 20th and no objections have been lodged against the proposals.

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.