Llantarnam School and Leisure Centre Cwmbran Torfaen A report following a survey for bats and birds by: On behalf of: November 2014 Client Torfaen County Borough Council Project Name Llantarnam School and Leisure Centre, Cwmbran, Torfaen Report Title A survey for bats and birds File Reference BAT6714 Status Signed Name Position Date Author Diane Morgan Senior 25th November 2014 BA (Hons) Ecologist ACIEEM Reviewer/Checker Phillip L Morgan Principal 2nd December 2014 CEnv MCIEEM Ecologist Members: Phillip Morgan CEnv MCIEEM Diane Morgan BA (Hons) ACIEEM Web Site: www.justmammals.com E-Mail: [email protected] Telephone: 0845 634 6077 Registered in: Cardiff No: OC345272 Registered Address: Llys Newydd, Llanfihangel Talyllyn, Brecon LD3 7TG Llantarnam School and Leisure Centre, Cwmbran, Torfaen NP44 3XB Torfaen County Borough Council Contents Page No. 1 Executive Summary 1 2 Introduction 1 3 Survey Team Experience 1 – 2 4 Survey Methodology 3 5 Site Description 3 – 4 6 Survey Constraints 4 7 Survey Results 4 – 8 8 Discussion and Conclusions 8 – 9 9 Recommendations 9 10 References 9 11 Site Location Plan 10 12 Site Building Plan 11 13 Description of Site Buildings 12 – 14 14 Site Photographs 15 – 16 15 Appendix I – Ecology of British Bats 17 16 Appendix II – Relevant Legislation 18 Just Mammals Consultancy LLP i November 2014 Llantarnam School and Leisure Centre, Cwmbran, Torfaen NP44 3XB Torfaen County Borough Council 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Within a programme to improve the education facilities in Cwmbran, it is proposed to close the existing school facilities at Llantarnam High School and Leisure Centre, off Llantarnam Road, in Cwmbran. Staff and pupils will transfer to the refurbished campus at Fairwater High School, and the existing school and leisure centre buildings at the Llantarnam site will be demolished. 1.2 In order to check for the presence of protected species, a bat and nesting bird survey was carried out on both the School buildings, and the Sixth Form Block. A thorough daytime internal and external inspection was undertaken, which was followed by four dusk bat emergence/activity observations. 1.3 The daytime inspection, in August 2014, found no evidence for the presence of bats, but gaps and small slots around the external features of the buildings, led to the conclusion that the structures had moderate potential to be used by bats. As noted above, four dusk observations were carried out in good weather conditions, during September 2014, at an optimal time of year, and in compliance with national bat survey guidelines, by a team of experienced observers. No bats were seen to emerge, and therefore the School and Sixth Form Block, are not considered to be bat roost locations. The Leisure Centre was considered not to offer any potential to be used. 1.4 Although no bird activity was observed during the bat surveys, there were several remnants of birds’ nests found on site, indicating locations are used by breeding birds. Guidance is provided below concerning the legal status afforded to breeding birds, and it is recommended that if the demolition work occurs during the bird nesting season (March – mid-August), then the buildings must be checked immediately in advance of this, to ensure no active bird nests are present in, or on, the structures. As the presence of bird nests can delay demolition work it is best to plan such work to avoid the nesting season. 2 Introduction 2.1 Llantarnam School and Leisure Centre lies to the south of Llantarnam Road, at National Grid Reference (NGR) ST 3038 9349, at an altitude of approximately 45m Above Ordnance Datum. The campus is currently still in use, however the plans are to close down both the School, and Leisure Centre, and to demolish all of the buildings on the site. Future plans for the re- development of the site are not known at the time of writing but the potential for development is evident. 2.2 To inform the local authority’s plans for the site, and the proposed demolition of the buildings, the Just Mammals Consultancy LLP was engaged to carry out a bat survey. The objectives of the summer 2014 bat activity survey were to: determine if bats or nesting birds are present in the School buildings and Leisure Centre; determine the species of bat or bird present, and consider their behaviour; identify any important bat flight lines; identify potential impacts, if any, from the development proposals; and gather sufficient information to be able to make appropriate recommendations in order to minimise any impacts. 2.3 This report sets out the findings of the survey effort and makes appropriate recommendations in the light of the findings. The survey was undertaken by a small team of experienced ecologists in suitable weather conditions and at a time of year in compliance with national guidelines. 3 Survey Team Experience 3.1 Lead surveyor was Robert Morgan, and assistant surveyor, and author of this report, was Diane Morgan. Assisting with the survey work was a team of ecologists and support staff and details of their experience and the bat equipment used is shown in Table 1 below. Table 1 – Survey Team Name/Position/Detector NRW Licences Experience Robert Morgan 50364:OTH:CSAB:2013 Eight years’ experience with bats, carrying out roost Ecologist expiry 30th November surveys – both in buildings and trees, emergence surveys, (TE) 2015 radio tracking of lesser horseshoes, ringing of Daubenton’s bats and monitoring of important maternity sites. Robert’s Just Mammals Consultancy LLP 1 November 2014 Llantarnam School and Leisure Centre, Cwmbran, Torfaen NP44 3XB Torfaen County Borough Council licence covers disturbance of all bat species in all parts of Wales. Robert has thousands of hours of experience of analysing bat sonograms using a variety of sound analysis software packages. Also expertise in respect of dormice (NRW licence holder), great crested newts, and slow- worms Diane Morgan 49980:OTH:CSAB:2013 Considerable experience (20 years) of surveying built BA (Hons) ACIEEM valid until 30th November structures for bats and has carried out ringing of Senior Ecologist 2015 Daubenton’s bat as part of a multi-year project on the (TE) species. She has undertaken monitoring work on several important lesser horseshoe bat roosts and assisted in radio tracking projects on the same species. She holds a City & Guilds Level 2 award for working in High Risk Confined Spaces. Prior to her work as a consultant ecologist, Diane was the Director of Brecknock Wildlife Trust and was involved in a wide range of nature conservation work including species and habitat protection and conservation land management. Other areas of interest include otter, dormice, water voles, reptiles, amphibians, fungi and crayfish Phil Morgan 50269:OTH:CSAB:2013, Over 30 years’ experience of undertaking building, tree CEnv MCIEEM valid until 30th November and cave surveys for all bat species. In addition he has Principal Ecologist 2015 undertaken foraging and flight line surveys using (TE) heterodyne and other echo location equipment and in 1991 made a significant contribution to a Bristol University run project, which established the methodology used in the National Bat Monitoring Programme. Phil has also undertaken numerous radio tracking exercises on both lesser horseshoe and Daubenton’s bats. He holds NRW licence for other protected species including dormice, otter, water vole and great crested newt Mo Tillotson 41312:OTH:CSAB:2012 Surveyor with eight years’ experience, undertaking Senior Survey Assistant valid until 31st of October emergence monitoring of lesser horseshoe bats as well as (HE, D-230) 2014 hibernation surveys for the same species. She has been involved in hundreds of emergence observations and has considerable expertise in surveying built structures for bats Nigel Isaksson 51581:OTH:CSAB:2014, Surveyor with six years experience undertaking bat Senior Survey Assistant valid until 28th February surveys, flight line observations, census counts (TE) 2015 Rachel Price Seven years’ experience with bats, undertaking bat BSc (Hons) ACIEEM surveys, emergence/flight line observations, census counts Senior Survey Assistant (TE) Carola Dallmeier BA Current work is Holds an MSc in Environmental Conservation (Hons) MSc Grad CIEEM contributing towards Management and has practical expertise with bats, birds, Ecologist (TE) licence training botanical assessments, mammalian and reptile surveys. As well as assisting in conservation-based research, she has carried out biodiversity audits and ecological enquiries. Carola has completed a study of water voles and is currently assisting with bird ringing Jenny Gatward A recent graduate of the University of Bristol, having BSc (Hons) MSc Grad studied for an MSc in Ecology and Management of the CIEEM Natural Environment. Practical expertise includes survey Trainee Ecologist (TE) work for badgers, dormice and great crested newts, whilst obtaining a ‘working towards your great crested newt licence’ certificate. Jenny is a Graduate member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (Grad CIEEM) and is currently on a Trainee Ecologist placement with Just Mammals Consultancy LLP James Hoskins James is currently a student gaining experience of Survey Assistant (TE) ecological field work Emma Higgins Following completion of a BSc Biology degree at the BSc (Hons) University of South Wales, Emma is currently studying for Ecological Survey an MSc in Conservation and GIS. She has experience in Assistant (TE) carrying out small mammal, vegetation and