Builder guilty of destruction of three protected bat roosts and ordered to pay £111.00
Date of alert:
Wednesday, 3 April 2024
Crime Ref:
Force:
Wales - Gwent Police
A builder has received a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay costs of £111.00 for illegally removing a roof at a property and destroying 3 separate bat roosts where protected Common, Soprano Pipistrelles and Whiskered bats were known to be roosting.
Mr Robert Roberts from Caerphilly pleaded guilty to breaching the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended) at Newport Magistrates Court on Monday 25 March 2024.
A full ecological survey completed by an independent ecologist employed by the house owner showed that the bat roosts were present at Alpine Cottage in Gelligaer.
All three species are priority species in the UK and Europe and are protected by both UK and European Wildlife law.
The presence of the bats meant that the roof of the building could not be removed without a European Protected Species License and appropriate mitigation in place.
The builder failed to apply for the Licence from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) before removing the roof.
