Council Leader Sean Matthews updates on the ongoing battle over costly bat mitigation for the North Hykeham Relief Road.
My comment: How absurd paying £4million for a bat bridge, when these mammals actually fly…..
Cllr Sean Matthews, Leader of Lincolnshire County Council, said: “We are well underway in our fight against having Lincolnshire taxpayers foot the bill for these ridiculous bat bridges and tunnels. I have been in touch with Natural England about this and my conversation with them is still ongoing.
“I’ve asked them, directly, whether or not Natural England would have objected to our plans if our officers hadn’t included bat mitigation. We’re still waiting on a response to this.
“I will also be writing to the Prime Minister about the absurdity of this situation and how we can get this sorted. I’m confident Government will be willing to help, seeing as the cabinet has also backed removing this type of costly red tape for developers.
“I want to make something perfectly clear. Using £4 million of taxpayer money on bat bridges and tunnels is an absolute farce, and I am 100% against paying this extortionate amount.
“Yes, there is a scenario where the cost of delaying things ends up costing more than we’d save continuing to fight this. That absolutely does not mean I’ve resigned to paying this £4 million. I will continue doing everything I can, for as long as I can, to save taxpayer money on this scheme.
“What I can say for certain is that construction of the relief road will start in early 2026.”
Preliminary on-site works are due to start on-site during w/c 22nd September, with main construction expected to start in February 2026.
The North Hykeham Relief Road project will form the final section of Lincoln’s ring road, with a new dual carriageway built linking the A46 Pennells Roundabout to the Lincoln Eastern Bypass.
As part of the project, new roundabouts would be built at South Hykeham Road, Brant Road and Grantham Road. A number of bridges would also be constructed, including at Station Road and over the River Witham.
For more information about the project, visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/nhrr.
