Great Crested Newts -District Level Licensing

[Furnace]

38 minutes ago, saveasteading said:

But this is what your newt consultant should have done for you

Probably. But they would have charged me for doing it, and may not have been as persistent. I'm so often disappointed with 'professional ' service providers. I really hope that someone else in my situation chances upon this thread and it can be of help.

[saveasteading]

2 hours ago, Furnace said:

I really hope that someone else in my situation chances upon this thread and it can be of help.

Good point.

And to close....with your new knowledge of the process, what would you do differently another time?

[Furnace]

It's far better to avoid getting into the hole in the first place.

1. Engage with the ecologist prior to instructing them, even if they have been recommended
2. Discuss the potential issues with the site and how they suggest they could be mitigated.
3. Probe for pragmatism and be aware of sticklers for rules.
4. Do all this before instructing them.

However, if mitigation is required, push back on unrealistic/unreasonable proposals of impact. My first attempts at push back were rejected by NE. It took a formal complaint before NE gave any ground at all, and then they moved all the way to my original position.
My communication with the complaints department, and with the NE site assessor were always polite and non-aggressive. This approach was effective, and made me feel I had behaved decently.

I'd be very happy to help anyone who finds themselves in a similar position.

[Furnace]

Maybe I got off lightly. Utter madness. Full article in the attached batcrazy.pdfpdf

[joe90]

Yes, I had to build three bat boxes in my workshop roof (I got away lightly) but yet to see a single bat use them over the last four years 🤷‍♂️

[Kelvin]

Good effort. For every one person like you who persists with asking why there will be ten who don’t. I like a good complaint letter myself. 

[saveasteading]

Typically £25 each. Or made of scaffold boards to free plans.

 

The £30,000 bat Palace is probably too clean, the wrong temperature and made from treated wood. Just guessing.

 

Somebody made some money.