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 whether, under the legal obligation to protect endangered species, there is any limit to the expenditure that the Highways Agency is required to undertake to provide bridges for bats over new roads; and whether, in the event of the provision of such bridges making the construction of the road under the benefit-cost ratio standards uneconomic, they would cancel or postpone construction.

Answer: Mitigation works undertaken on a Highways Agency major project for bats are implemented under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994. The legislation does not place an expenditure limit on the provision of bat bridges over new roads. The costs associated with the construction of a bat bridge will vary for a variety of reasons, therefore each scheme is assessed on an individual basis. If the cost of provision of bat bridges caused the benefit-cost ratio to drop to the point where construction of the road was uneconomic, then alternative options which meet the scheme’s objectives at a lower cost would be considered in the first instance. If no viable options were found, it is possible that construction could be postponed or cancelled. However, this would be highly unlikely as bat bridges form a very small part of the overall scheme cost for new roads.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 6161; 714 c127WA
Session: 2008-09
Subjects: Costs Construction Bridges Highways Agency Nature conservation Roads Bats
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk