A PROPERTY developer who destroyed a bat roost during a renovation project has been fined £500.

David Dalton, aged 33, of Chorley New Road, Lostock, appeared before Chorley Magistrates Court yesterday afternoon, Monday, after pleading guilty to illegally destroying a bat roost in a property he was developing in Rivington Lane, Chorley.

Following a survey at the property, Dalton discovered one of the buildings contained a roost of brown long-eared bats.

As well as the fine, he was ordered to pay £140 costs.

Instead of applying for a licence that would allow for the building to be developed in a way to protect the bats, Dalton demolished the building and destroyed the roost.

Police said offences against bats are one of the UK’s wildlife crime priorities - of identical standing to the illegal trade in endangered species and the persecution of birds of prey.

Lancashire police's wildlife crime officer, Mark Thomas, said: “We take every report of wildlife crime very seriously.

“We have worked hard with the Bat Conservation Trust to bring this case to court.

"People can’t just start carrying out building renovation work and think they don’t have to have the correct surveys and licences to cover the work they intend to do.

"The reason they have to do this is to protect certain species and in this case bats and their roosts.

“Dalton chose to ignore the law – he should have adhered to codes of practice. It is the responsibility of property owners and developers to ensure all building work has had appropriate ecological surveys undertaken.”

Investogator Pete Charleston, from the Bat Conservation Trust, said: “The law allows for building, development and demolition to take place at bat roosts provided that the impact on bats is minimised by following the certain conditions as set out in a license.

“If you plan works and follow the mitigation measures as outlined in the license, projects can run smoothly - if you don’t it is a serious offence, bats are put at risk with long-lasting consequences for bat populations."

Anyone who needs advice on bats can call the trust's helpline on 0845 1300228.