Old trees or sticks in plastic wrapping? Veteran trees support 1000s of species, including rare barbastelle bats. The Norwich Western Link would destroy old woods
Hi
Rare barbastelle bats live right in the proposed path of the Norwich Western Link (NWL), in the UK's largest known super colony. Too many bats live too close to the route for this super colony not be severely impacted. As they have the highest legal protections, and this should stop this project in its tracks.
But Norfolk County Council (NCC) are still not even acknowledging that there is a supercolony! They have had the data since February, so they have no excuses.
Norfolk County Council will be meeting to sign off on putting the NWL out to contract and submitting the Outline Business Case (applying for Department of Transport funding) on the 7th of June.
But as it stands Norfolk Councillors making the decision will not be made aware that these rare bats are there.
They need to know ALL THE FACTS BEFORE DEBATING a £153 million plus contract!
When they know the facts they can't ,with integrity, sign off these decisions on behalf of the Norfolk people.
Not only should they stop the project because it is impossible to mitigate for this habitat loss by planting some saplings and building bat bridges, but they are also leaving NCC open to a legal challenge, and wasting money on project that is likely to fail to get planning permission.
What can I do to help?
Write to your councillor/MP before the 7th June
You can read full details on the bat surveys and our complaint to NCC here
Thankyou for adding your voice to protect the Wensum Valley
Our Crowdfunder has now raised over £6000!
Thanks so much to everyone who has contributed and shared so far! We are well on our way, but we need to keep pushing to get to our target of £10,000.
As you can see from NCC's actions they seem determined to push this project through despite the strong legal protections of the bats and the massive cost. We need to start preparing for a potential legal challenge.
Please give whatever you can, and spread the word.
Did you miss Chris Packham launching it? He was very impassioned about what would be lost. You can watch it
here
Thanks again for your help. We can only beat this senseless road if we all work together.
The Stop the Wensum Link team
