NEWS AND COMMENT: You might know that in Britain for many years the police have been closing police stations at the rate of more than one a week. They’ve closed 663 since 2010 according to a Times report.
Ther public want police stations with customer service counters. Another disconnect between the police and the public who don’t respect or trust them anymore.
The Devon and Cornwall police want to demolish their old police station in Exmouth that was closed to the public in 2015 but remains operational. They want to build a new station with a customer service desk! Great.
But they can’t because there are hibernating bats in the building. They got in through gaps in the cladding.
The police have earmarked the necessary £5m for the new building but the East Devon District Council won’t entertain a planning application until the impact of demolishing the building on the bats has been assessed.
Until the impact of this demolition is understood and suggestions to reduce impacts are provided the council is not allowed to grant planning permission.
The council
Alison Hernandez said that the bats are driving her batty. She said: “Bats stall my office’s planning application for the new Exmouth police station. I have to wait until roosting season [in] May-Sept to carry out a survey before East Devon District Council will even register the planning application.
Comment: Bats are more important and more useful than the police in any case. 🙂 And why can’t the police simply modify the existing building?
The police consistently say they are short of money. This is partly because they are on blue chip pensions and early retirement after which they get a new job.
They need to save some money and consider refurbishing the existing building.
All UK bat species are protected by European and UK legislation: the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 and amendments and Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This affords complete legal protection to all bats and their roosts.
Another council provides the law on bats.
