Hampshire Wildlife Trust objects to Romsey School plans due to bats

The Romsey School, in Greatbridge Road, has submitted a planning application to demolish a garage, timber shed and two lean-to structures before constructing a single-storey extension.

CGI of Romsey School development (Image: TVBC)

Despite an ecology survey finding no evidence of roosting bats, with low suitability and few access points, video evidence sent to the Advertiser has shown otherwise.

The video shows bats flying in and out of a single-storey breeze block building that’s currently used as a classroom and office space, exiting from a wall that would be knocked down if the plan goes ahead.

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Senior nature-based solutions manager at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Deborah Whitfield, has objected to the application as bats and their roosts are legally protected.

Ms Whitfield’s objection read: “The buildings adjacent to the garage building with plans to be demolished is an active bat roost. The garage has also been identified as having potential for roosting bats and further surveys are recommended in the submitted Ecological Report to establish if a roost is present, these appear not to have been carried out at the time of comment.

“All bat species and their roosts are protected by law and it is an offence to intentionally disturb, damage or destroy a known bat roost. I therefore urge the application be recommended for withdrawal or refusal until appropriate surveys have been carried out and suitable mitigation proposed and reviewed by the borough ecologist before determination.”

Identified bat roost from video (Image: Contributed)

The planning application stated that: “No evidence of roosting bats was recorded during the survey.

“There are a total of three buildings on site, B1, B2 and B3. B2 was assessed as offering low suitability for roosting bats while B1 and B3 offer negligible suitability for roosting bats.”

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CEO of the Gateway Trust, which owns The Romsey School, Gwennan Harrison-Jones said: "I can of course confirm that the school is already following and will continue to diligently follow all guidance offered by ecologists, Hants and IOW Wildlife Trust and the planners to ensure comprehensive compliance and the ongoing positive progress of the application."

The Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) recognises that bats could be roosting on site. The plan reads: “The wider site improvements scheme does not include any proposals for external lighting, and so no impact will be caused to the presence of bats on site.

“All areas identified as suitable foraging and commuting habitat for bats are to maintain a level of complete darkness to mitigate against any impacts caused. All machinery is to be switched off after hours of work on-site, and to remain off overnight until the following working day, to reduce any potential impact machine noise pollution may cause.

“Bat boxes are to be installed onto retained suitably mature trees or buildings around the wider site as compensation and enhancement for the loss of potential foraging, commuting and roosting sites.”