Written question asked by Lord Marlesford (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Adonis (Labour) on Tuesday, 10 November 2009.

Bats

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Adonis on 28 October (WA 147), on the advice of which other Governmentagency the Highways Agency decided to build two bridges for bats over the Dobwalls Bypass in Cornwall; what consideration was given to the adequacy of a single bridge; who drew up the specification for the bridges; and which contractor constructed the bridges.

Answer: The Highways Agency is legally bound to protect endangered species such as bats. Mitigation of the severance of three of their main flight lines formed part of the commitments we made at public inquiry in support of European protected species legislative requirements to enable the bypass project to progress, especially since surveys found 12 of the 14 native species of bat in the area. The Highways Agency sought advice from English Nature (now Natural England), a statutory consultee. They indicated that measures would be required to mitigate the severance of three of the most important bat commuting routes by the then proposed Dobwalls Bypass. These three commuting routes are some distance apart, and highlighted the need to provide separate mitigation measures for each route. The measures comprised two artificial bat crossing structures plus a raised parapet modification to the new Havett Road overbridge crossing. The contractor for the bypass, Interserve Project Services Ltd, constructed the bat bridges. Interserve’s design consultant, Parsons Brinckerhoff and environmental sub-consultant Ecological Planning and Research Ltd drew up the specification for them with advice from Natural England.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 6159; 714 c125-6WA
Session: 2008-09
Related items: Bats
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Contracts Construction Cornwall Highways Agency Nature conservation Roads Bats A38
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk