Former Infants School Blaenrhondda Treorchy Bat Survey

6th Jan 2008 Report No: SKR/04-2008/01

Author: S K Rogers

Report no: SKR/04-2008/01 Date: 06/01/09

This report has been prepared for Robertson Francis Partnership in accordance with the terms and conditions of appointment for Bat Surveys dated April 2007. Bats UK Ltd (5024578 ) cannot accept any responsibility for any use of or reliance on the contents of this report by any third party.

Bats UK Ltd 5024578 30 Coed Celynen Drive, Abercarn, Newport, NP11 5AU Tel: +44 (0)1495 249903 Email: [email protected] BATS UK LIMITED Contents

1 Introduction ...... 1

1.1 Site Description ...... 1 1.2 Proposed works...... 2 1.3 Aims of study...... 2 2 Methodology...... 2

2.1 Field Survey ...... 2 2.2 Surveyor’s experience...... 2 2.3 Emergence survey ...... 3 2.4 Dawn re-entry survey ...... 3 3 Survey Results ...... 4

3.1 Field Survey ...... 4 4 Assessment...... 6

4.1 Constraints on study information...... 6 4.2 Legislation and Policy Guidance ...... 6 5 Recommendations and Mitigation...... 7 6 Bats Discovered During Works...... 7 7 Summary...... 8 8 References...... 8 9 Site Photos ...... 9

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BATS UK LIMITED 1 Introduction

This report is produced in support of a planning application for the redevelopment of the former infant’s school at Blaenrhondda, Treorchy. The developer will be submitting an application for redevelopment and Bats UK Ltd. was appointed to carry out a bat survey. This survey has been requested in order to assess the implications of redevelopment of the old school buildings in respect to European protected species.

However further to the original survey which as undertaken in April 08, this report as been amended to reflect the fact that the school has undergone extensive fire damage caused by arsonists on the 23 July 2008, what remains of the school building has been so extensively damaged that the structure cannot accommodate any roosting bats or barn owls. 1.1 Site Description Map Ref: SS 926999 Address: The Old Infants School Cross Brook Street Blaenrhondda Treorchy CF42 5SB

School Site

Fig 1 & 2 Location Plan

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BATS UK LIMITED 1.2 Proposed works It is proposed to demolish the old school site; a full planning application proposal will be submitted with this report. 1.3 Aims of study The main objective of this survey is to establish whether or not the old school site is in use by any European protected bat species. The aim of this report is to present the findings of this survey in order to provide full information to the local planning authorities concerned.

2 Methodology

All bat survey methodology is carried out using the current Bat Conservation Trust (2007). Bat Surveys - Good Practice Guidelines ISBN 978-1-872745-99-2, copies are available from www.bats.org.uk or nhbs Environment Bookstore www.nhbs.com .

2.1 Field Survey The daytime inspection was undertaken on the afternoon of the 18 th April 2008. The emergence survey was undertaken on the evening of the 20th with a dawn assessment undertaken on the 25 th April 2008.

2.2 Surveyor’s experience Principal surveyor and author of this report was Mr. Simon Keith Rogers a Countryside Council for Wales, and a Natural England (license No. 20070535), licensed bat worker and trainer. Mr. Rogers has considerable experience of surveying built structures for bats. He has extensive experience in undertaking monitoring work on several SSSI bat roosts and has been significantly involved in bat conservation since 1993.

He has extensive experience of undertaking bat surveys in buildings/caves/ tunnels/trees etc, using heterodyne and other echolocation equipment. He is the local recorder for the Gwent and South Wales Valley Bat Groups, and a specialist bat ecologist with Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council.

Mr. Rogers is a Member of the Association of local Government Ecologists (ALGE) and Managing Director of Bats UK Ltd.

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2.2.1 Daytime Observation External examination was made of the design and structure of the old school site to assess its suitability for use by bats and for potential access and exit points. Evidence, such as bat droppings on windows, walls or other surfaces, was looked for around eaves, soffits, flashing under tiles etc, a pair of Canon 10x42 LIS image stabilizer binoculars and a one million candle powered lamp was used to illuminate any potential access and roosting areas. Internal inspection of the old school building was undertaken for the presence of bats or the remains of dead bats and for signs of bat activity, including bat droppings, and discarded fragments of insects such as moth wings, on floors, ledges, walls, and on any stored items and other surfaces. Urine staining on timbers and staining caused by oil from bat fur was also searched for. Any holes/gaps in walls/timber were inspected as closely as possible with the aid of an Olympus OSF Sigmoidoscope, and a Provision 300 endoscope. These instruments allow optical observation within the deep crevices for the presence of bats or the remains of dead bats and for signs of bats, including bat droppings, urine staining, staining on stone and other materials caused by oil from bat fur, and discarded fragments of insects such as moth wings, etc.

2.3 Emergence survey Investigation of bat activity was undertaken covering the peak activity for bats from sunset for at least four hours with a dawn assessment undertaken as well. External assessment was undertaken using a transect approach with the surveyor using a bat detector, an AnaBat SD1 with a digital recorder located at strategic points to detect bat activity around the site. All recordings were later downloaded onto a PC then specialised software (BatSound version 3.3) and AnaBatW were used to analyse all calls to aid in the identification of bat species detected on site.

2.4 Dawn re-entry survey Re-entry surveys are one of the primary methods for confirming bat use within trees, and old buildings etc, as bats are hard to find by internal and external inspections especially in areas that are impossible to access or where there is no visible evidence available.

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BATS UK LIMITED Surveyors or recording equipment should be positioned so that all possible exits can be observed, the timing of the dawn survey should be undertaken between one and a half to two hours before sunrise however some bats may return after sunrise. Night vision camcorders activated by movement or on continuous record can be used to record bat activity without the need for additional observers to be present throughout the survey period to concentrate on any potential access points etc. Ideally they should be collocated with a bat detector so that bat call could be recorded along with the live video recording for further analysis.

3 Survey Results 3.1 Field Survey 3.1.1 Habitat Description The old school building is situated next to a woodland block. There are several trees around the old school site. There is not much of the original roof area remaining (see Site Photos, section 9); there has been substantial fire damage to 50% of the roof area and what is left has been subject to vandalism. All the lead has been stripped from the roof area and what remains of the roof voids has been opened up to the elements.

Fig 3 Arial View Fig 4 North elevation

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BATS UK LIMITED 3.1.2 Bat Roost Survey No evidence was found to indicate any bats have used this building in the past nor was any evidence found to indicate current bat use as a roosting site for bats. Whilst every reasonable effort is made to locate bats during a survey, it is impossible to guarantee that crevice-dwelling species are absent. The destructive removal of tiles and/or slates, and cavity walls etc., would be necessary to prove that no roosting bats exist in such places. No responsibility can be taken for the discovery of bats in such locations after a survey has been carried out.

3.1.3 Bat Activity Survey The evening’s bat activity/emergence assessments was undertaken on the evening of 20 th April 2008 by Mr K Rogers who was assisted by Mr D Rogers. The weather conditions on the evening were excellent for detecting bats. It was a warm pleasant evening with a temperature of 19.9 0, the sky was generally clear with an occasional light breeze. On arrival at the old school site a geo positioning system (GPS) was used to establish local sunset and sunrise timings for the day which were found to be 20.15 and 06.06 hours British Summer Time (BST). The evening’s emergence assessment started at 16.45 hours when three static bat detectors and recording equipment were installed - one in the main roof, that was not subject to fire damage with the remaining two situated around the site. At 20.30 hours ten Common Pipistrelle bats ( Pipistrellus pipistrellus) were seen flying along the access road in to the school grounds passing the school and foraging around the trees on the west of the site. At 21.26 hours three Common Pipistrelle bats ( Pipistrellus pipistrellus) (46 kHz) where seen foraging around several of the trees on the south side of the school playing grounds. The static bat detector located within the main roof of the old school building was activated by one Pipistrelle bat (46 kHz) at 21.20 this was most likely due to the fact that all the bat activity around the school grounds and the openness of the building to the elements would allow the bats to fly through what remains of the building. The dawn assessment on the 25 th April 2008 from 04.30 to 06.30 confirmed that Common Pipistrelle bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) were not using the old school building as a roosting site. A transect approach was undertaken whereby a surveyor equipped with a bat detector walked around the site looking for flight lines and swarming bats.

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4 Assessment 4.1 Constraints on study information No constraints were experienced with respect to accessing the old school building for assessment. The assessment of the building was excellent with clear observation of all aspects of the building concerned and the weather conditions were suitable for the assessment work undertaken.

4.2 Legislation and Policy Guidance All bat species in the United Kingdom are fully protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, and by the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994. The Wildlife and Countryside Act makes it an offence to intentionally damage, destroy or obstruct access to any site used by bats, or to intentionally disturb bats within a roost. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act introduced the concept of recklessness with regard to the above. Where bat roosts are likely to be affected by development related activities, the National Assembly for Wales may grant ‘development’ licences under provisions of the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994. Before a licence is granted three tests are required to be met:

• Regulation 44(2)(e) states that licences may be granted to ‘preserve public health, or public safety or other imperative reason of overriding public interest including those of a social or economic nature, and beneficial consequences of primary importance for the environment’.

• Regulation 44(3) (a) states that a licence may not be granted unless the licensing authority is satisfied that ‘there is no reasonable alternative’.

• Regulation 44(3) (b) states that a licence cannot be issued unless the licensing authority is satisfied that the proposed action ‘will not be detrimental to the maintenance of the population of the species concerned at a favourable conservation status in its natural range’.

This explanation of the law should be regarded as a guide only. For further particulars reference should be made to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 and the Countryside and Rights of way Act 2000.

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BATS UK LIMITED 5 Recommendations and Mitigation

A development licence from WAG will not be required in respect to bats for the old school building at Blaenrhondda, Treorchy.

6 Bats Discovered During Works.

As it is possible for bats to take up residence in disused buildings after surveys have been carried out, developers and builders should always check for roosting bats. In the case where bats are discovered after planning permission has been granted, or after development has commenced, works that would be likely to lead to a breach in the law should cease, and a survey undertaken (note that species protection legislation applies even when planning consent has been granted). If evidence of bats is found and any action is proposed which would affect the bats or their roost, the Countryside Council for Wales should be informed and allowed time to advice on any special precautions which may be necessary. Such actions would include for example:

Renovation Re-roofing and roof repairs Conversion

Demolition Control of bees, wasps or cluster flies etc/by application of pesticides

Remedial timber treatment Early consultation at the survey stage helps to avoid unnecessary disruption of building or timber treatment work and reduces the risk of disturbance of bats or damage to their roost.

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BATS UK LIMITED 7 Summary

A development licence from the National Assembly for Wales will not be required with regards to the old school building. This report has been amended to address the further substantial fire damage caused by arsonists on 23rd July 2008. The structure has been so extensively damaged that all potential bat roots have now been eradicated. There is no evidence of any wildlife within the structure and there is no possibility that bats or barn owls will return here as the building is completely unsuitable as a roosting or nesting site.

8 References

Mitchell-Jones, A.J. (2004). ‘ Bat mitigation Guidelines’ . English Nature, Peterborough. Mitchell-Jones, A.J. (1992). ‘ Focus on Bats’ . English Nature, Peterborough Mitchell-Jones, A.J. & McLeish A.P. (2004). ‘ The Bat Workers Manual 3 rd Edition ’. English Nature, Peterborough Bat Conservation Trust. (2007) ‘ Bat Surveys Good Practice Guidelines ’ BCT, London.

Jon Russ (1999) ‘ The Bats of Britain & Ireland’ Alana Ecology Ltd (1999)

S K Rogers

Managing Director

Bats UK Limited.

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BATS UK LIMITED 9 Site Photos

South Elevation

East Elevation

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Burnt out section

South Elevation

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Internal View

Corridor

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