A contentious discussion over the North Hykeham Relief Road project near Lincoln has erupted, with the Lincolnshire County Council under scrutiny to fund a £4.3m bat bridge and tunnel. The bat protection measures became essential following the discovery of the rare barbastelle bats in the area. This marks the furthest north these bats have been found in England and Wales. The road development project, which has been planned to connect the A46 with Lincoln’s eastern bypass, has been ordered by Natural England to include these protective measures.
Sean Matthews, the leader of the Reform UK council, has criticised the expenditure, labelling it as absurd, and asserted that taxpayers should not be burdened with the cost. On the other side, Conservative opposition leader, Richard Davies, has countered by saying that the existing system overly prioritises wildlife over the needs of local inhabitants.
While the debate continues, the council is currently exploring alternative solutions. This story was revised and brought to you by The Lincoln Post, originally reported by www.bbc.com.
