Protected bats to affect Island Point scheme

Developer Glenkerrin hopes its plans to replace the structure with a 189-unit housing scheme will be green-lit by Tower Hamlets Council on Wednesday (April 15). But as bats are a protected species, it is a criminal offence to damage or destroy a roosting place.

While a council visit this month concluded there was no "reasonable likelihood" of bats being present, it has urged the developer to conduct another survey when the bats emerge from hibernation and start roosting in May. Glenkerrin has agreed to this request.

Lockesfield Place resident Gill Crawford called the borough's bat walker Ken Greenway for advice after one neighbour spotted the species roosting in her garden.

She said: "A neighbour told me that they've flown into the bird box in her garden. We've had several different reports of sightings.

"The council should make sure that when they start roosting, someone does a proper study.

"Bats have been seen in Millwall Park before, so it seems like a pretty good place for them to be."

Bats have been recorded foraging within 400m of the site, and the council claims the nearest bat roost is 550m to the east. But their numbers have reportedly dwindled in the capital in recent years.

As part of its biodiversity plan, it is required to undertake a study to investigate the presence of a protected species. If they are discovered, the developer will need to make its plans more "bat friendly" by incorporating roosts.

Mr Greenway has spotted bats around Mudchute during his guided walking tours of habitats around the borough.

He said: "The bats don't need to be there during the visit. They just need to find droppings.
"Bats only need a small amount of space. All the developer would need to do would be to maintain and improve what's there.

"Most people imagine bats to be Dracula or flying rats. But they're valuable in controlling pest species, and they're very clean animals.

"You can pop their droppings into your cornflakes and they won't harm you at all."