Controversy has arisen over the £166,000 cost of constructing two “luxury” bat houses next to junction 10 of the M5 in Gloucestershire. These structures are part of a £372 million road upgrade project and are designed to accommodate 130 bat roosts displaced by the development.
Gloucestershire County Council is legally obligated under the Government’s development consent order to provide alternative roosting sites for bats, a protected species. However, Reform UK Councillor Vernon Smith from Tewkesbury West has expressed surprise at the expense, dubbing the project “batty” and questioning the prioritization of funds over other wildlife and community services.
At a council meeting on March 25, Planning and Infrastructure cabinet member Julian Tooke disclosed that approximately £133,000 has been spent so far, with a total estimated cost of £166,000 for both structures. Funding primarily comes from central government and developer contributions.
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Cllr Tooke highlighted the significance of protecting bats, noting 57 confirmed bat roosts within the project area across trees and buildings, with an additional estimated 73 undiscovered sites. A diverse range of 14 bat species, including brown long-eared, common pipistrelle, and greater horseshoe bats, inhabit the area.
Despite agreeing that the costs seem high, Cllr Tooke emphasized the council’s statutory duty to protect the species and the necessity of securing competitive quotes. He expressed a preference for directing funds toward children’s services, education, and libraries.
Comparatively, similar conservation efforts on the A249 Bearsted road improvements in Kent are estimated to cost over £120,000, indicating that such expenditures are consistent with market rates for protecting bats during infrastructure projects.