Representation by Norfolk Barbastelle Study Group (Norfolk Barbastelle Study Group)
- Date submitted
- 16 June 2021
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
We are concerned that the Ecological Assessment of the proposed scheme does not adequately consider the short and long-term impacts on the nationally important colony of Western Barbastelle Barbastella barbastellus, a rare Annex II bat species which is located in the Lenwade/Ringland Hills/Weston Longville area. The cumulative impacts of this scheme and the Norwich Western Link are not addressed, despite the fact that both schemes fall within the Core Sustenance Zone of the barbastelle colony. On-going comprehensive research on this colony by Wildwings Ecology, in collaboration with the University of East Anglia and the Norfolk Barbastelle Study Group, has shown that barbastelles from the colony cross the A47. To our knowledge, there has been no attempt to consider this information in the impact assessment. The dualled road corridor road will considerably increase the risk of road kills and habitat severance which, together with the adverse impacts from the Norwich Western Link, will have a major adverse impact on the long-term viability of the colony. There is no existing evidence to give confidence that green bridges, gantries or underpasses will successfully mitigate for these impacts. Although not designated, the barbastelle colony exceeds the criteria for Special Area of Conservation (SAC) designation. The national importance of the colony should not be ignored in the impact assessment.