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A builder who destroyed three protected bat roosts while removing a cottage roof has been handed a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £111.
What is a conditional discharge?
A discharge is a type of conviction where a court finds you guilty but does not give you a sentence because the offence is very minor. The conviction could be: an absolute discharge, or a conditional discharge – where you could still get a sentence if you break the conditions
Robert Roberts, of Lon y Celyn, Nelson, appeared at Newport Magistrates Court on March 25, where he pleaded guilty to breaching the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations Act.
An ecological survey showed protected common bats, soprano pipistrelles, and whiskered bats were in the roof of Alpine Cottage, near Gelligaer.
All three species are protected by law in the UK, meaning the roof could not be removed without a licence and an appropriate mitigation in place.
However, Roberts, 57, did not apply for a licence from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) before removing the roof on October 6, 2023 – therefore no ecological support was on hand to protect the bats.
In court, he blamed a breakdown in communication between himself and the house owner for the error.
He also said that despite the entire roof being removed, the bats had since returned and had therefore not been harmed.
PC Mark Powell, who is on secondment with NRW, described the destruction of the bat roosts as “devastating”.
He said: “The ecologists that compiled the original survey at the address confirmed that there were three separate roosts present and two of those roosts, they allege, were maternity roosts.
“This destruction of confirmed bat roosts without ecological onsite support, and without the European Protected Species Licence, is shocking.”
PC Powell continued: “The loss of two maternity roosts is simply devastating and whilst it is fortunate that bats have returned to the address, the potential loss of a full years’ breeding cycle may have impacted the species in the local area.
“Legislation is in place and is designed to protect our already dwindling protected native species.
“The conservation of bats, and other protected species, must be ensured if future generations are to benefit from their continued existence.”
Environmental incidents can be reported to NRW’s incident communication line on 0300 065 3000.
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