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15:01:2010

May Gurney praised by environmentalist

May Gurney has been praised by South West Water’s principal environmental scientist for its understanding when a bat roost was discovered on a scheme in Devon.

Jamie Edmonds, May Gurney Environmental Advisor, discovered the potential roost at the site where a new water main was being installed under the M5 near Collumpton.

The scheme was due to be installed in August to meet a legal undertaking with the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI).

On the advice of Paul McNie, SWW’s principal environmental scientist, special dispensation was sought and agreed with DWI to delay the scheme to the end of October in order to minimise disturbance from the construction work and give time for the breeding colony to disperse.

All bat species and their roost sites are protected by law in the UK and any disturbance is therefore licensable by the statutory nature conservation agencies. Consequently a programme was put in place to monitor changes in colony numbers so that the work could proceed, without causing disturbance, as soon as reasonably practical.

Paul McNie, who is also a member of the Devon Bat Group, said: “All credit to May Gurney, South West Water and the DWI for their understanding, facilitating the scheme delay and for persevering through the mud to get the pipe installed in time to meet the revised DWI requirements.”

Click here to read more about May Gurney's work in partnership with South West Water.