HOUSING HARTLEPOOL MOVES TO PROTECT BAT ROOST
NEWS RELEASE: ISSUED ON BEHALF OF HOUSING HARTLEPOOL
Housing Hartlepool has moved in to protect a bat roost, which has been found in one of its regeneration projects.
Demolition work on most of the Easington Road scheme will go-ahead as planned, and is being undertaken by Sirius Remediation.
But the clearance of 12 properties will be postponed until early May after pre-work inspections discovered bats, which are a protected species, had made their home there. This means that these properties have to be left intact until the Pipistrelle bats’ roosting period is over.
Mark Dutton, Housing Hartlepool’s Head of Regeneration, said: We can press on with the majority of the work, but we must not disturb the bats during the demolition of surrounding properties.
“Therefore the 12 properties where the bats have been found will remain standing until their spell of roosting ends.”
The Bat Conservation Trust has praised Housing Hartlepool’s efforts to keep the bats safe.
Trust spokeswoman, Heather McFarlane, said: It is important that the protection of this species is taken seriously and it is great that Housing Hartlepool is taking the bats' interests into account during this stage of the regeneration project.”
Under the regeneration plans, 72 houses will eventually be demolished and replaced with a similar number of high quality new homes in an overall investment of around £8m.
The demolition work is due to take about four months, and once it is completed the area will be screened off. Housing Hartlepool is looking at ways of enhancing the appearance of the site prior to redevelopment commencing, such as showing artist’s impressions of what it will eventually look like.
Construction work is expected to start towards the end of 2010.
ENDS
CONTACT: Helen Logan on 01325 363436
Notes to editors: Housing Hartlepool is the largest housing association in Hartlepool.
It was set up in March 2004 to take over the ownership and management of the Council's rented housing stock following a positive ballot by tenants. It is a not for profit charitable organisation.
Housing Hartlepool is run by a voluntary board that consists of four tenant members, four council nominees and four independent people.
The company manages 7,000 properties throughout the Hartlepool area and surrounding villages. These range from five-bedroom family houses to flats for single people. In addition there is a wide range of bungalows and sheltered housing complexes for the elderly.
In addition to its core landlord role Housing Hartlepool is also the main housing regeneration agent in the town and is developing much needed affordable homes in the area.
For more information, go to: www.housinghartlepool.org.uk
Pipistrelle bat - photo courtesy of Hugh Clark / Bat Conservation Trust
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