Bypass bat bridge to go ahead, despite criticism

13 hours ago

Harry Parkhillin Lincoln, Lincolnshire

News image — A groundbreaking ceremony for the North Hykeham relief road

BBC A group of about 20 people, all formally dressed, stand on a building site in front of a large sign reading: "North Hykeham Relief Road, reducing congestion and improving journey times by completing Lincoln's ring road, opening summer 2029, funded by UK government, in partnership with Balfour Beatty." A large yellow, tracked construction vehicle is parked behind the sign and is partially visible. — A groundbreaking ceremony for the North Hykeham relief road

A controversial bat bridge and tunnel will go ahead as part of work on a new bypass, it has been confirmed.

The measures will be put in place during the construction of the North Hykeham Relief Road in order to protect rare barbastelle bats, with an estimated cost of £4.3m.

Councillor Sean Matthews, Reform leader of Lincolnshire County council, previously criticised the protection plan and branded it "nonsense".

But Matthews said government money was being spent on the measures and the council needed to take a "common-sense approach" to avoid costly delays.

Getty Images A dark-brown bat flying through a dark landscape, its wings spread wide, with rocks and leaves seen in the corners of the photo. — Barbastelle bats are classed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature

"We're going to crack on, get it done, because I want this road finished as soon as possible," he added.

A ground-breaking ceremony for the new £218m bypass was staged on Tuesday.

The relief road, which will complete a loop around Lincoln by connecting the A15 and A46, was first proposed in 2005. It is due to be completed in 2029.

Lincoln MP Hamish Falconer confirmed the debate over the bat measures had been "smoothed out" and that the road would be "fully compliant with all the environmental regulations" and was "going ahead".

Councillors were previously told a bat bridge costing £3m was needed at South Hykeham and a tunnel costing £1.3m was required at Waddington.

Similar bat measures were put in place as part of the HS2 project, at a cost of £100m.

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