Discussion
Timmy35 said:
Countdown said:
Damn - there goes my cunning plan 
It's money for old rope, having said that as another poster noted there are more people doing bat surveys than there are tics on a stray cat which is ( thankfully ) driving prices down. 
ks 
Countdown said:
That was also my gut feeling.
Why exactly are bats a protected species?
You may as well ask: "why do we want bio-diversity?", "Why are birds protected", "Why are wildflowers protected?", "why are many trees protected?", "why are SSSI's protected", "why are parts of our landscape protected?"Why exactly are bats a protected species?
It doesnt really take much logical thought to understand why we need bio diversity. The law of unintended consequences tend to come into play why you let bio diversity decline.
Many bat species are vulnerable or endangered due to factors ranging from loss and fragmentation of habitat, diminished food supply, destruction of roosts, disease and hunting or killing of bats.
In the UK, bat populations have declined considerably over the last century. Bats are still under threat from building and development work that affects roosts, loss of habitat, the severing of commuting routes by roads and threats in the home including cat attacks, flypaper and some chemical treatments of building materials. Other potential threats can include wind turbines and lighting if they are sited on key bat habitat on near roosts.
The wider issue about bio-diversoty is a double edged sword of course. Mixamotosis anyone? Or urban foxes?
I came away from the bat survey experience financially battered, and with the distinct feeling I'd been bent over with my trousers around my ankles by the spotty bespectacled oik who got bullied at school. The report was full of ambiguous generalisations, appeared largely copied-and-pasted, and of course "recommended" a further two night study. At which point you are firmly over a barrel as, in reality, it's hardly optional.
Sadly the CL article chimed with my own experience.
I came away from the bat survey experience financially battered, and with the distinct feeling I'd been bent over with my trousers around my ankles by the spotty bespectacled oik who got bullied at school. The report was full of ambiguous generalisations, appeared largely copied-and-pasted, and of course "recommended" a further two night study. At which point you are firmly over a barrel as, in reality, it's hardly optional.
Sadly the CL article chimed with my own experience.
I am finding this thread really odd. I just checked with my accounts dept, and it seems that in the last 12 months we have commissioned 18 bat surveys on 16 different sites. The average cost has been £600 and non of them have cost more than the original quote or more than the appraisal estimate.
In each case the planning condition has been satisfied and the development is underway.
Archeological investigations on the other hand, are a complete nightmare and they really are money for old rope with a typical watching brief costing £12k and delyaing the development by 6 weeks (average interest cost for 6 weeks £50k). Most of the archeological investigations have over run in cost terms and in time. We allow a 50% contingency for archeogical work. Just spent nearly £20k trying top find the foundations of a demolished mill because the council didn't record it properly the first time!
In each case the planning condition has been satisfied and the development is underway.
Archeological investigations on the other hand, are a complete nightmare and they really are money for old rope with a typical watching brief costing £12k and delyaing the development by 6 weeks (average interest cost for 6 weeks £50k). Most of the archeological investigations have over run in cost terms and in time. We allow a 50% contingency for archeogical work. Just spent nearly £20k trying top find the foundations of a demolished mill because the council didn't record it properly the first time!
blueg33 said:
I am finding this thread really odd. I just checked with my accounts dept, and it seems that in the last 12 months we have commissioned 18 bat surveys on 16 different sites. The average cost has been £600 and non of them have cost more than the original quote or more than the appraisal estimate.
In each case the planning condition has been satisfied and the development is underway.
Archeological investigations on the other hand, are a complete nightmare and they really are money for old rope with a typical watching brief costing £12k and delyaing the development by 6 weeks (average interest cost for 6 weeks £50k). Most of the archeological investigations have over run in cost terms and in time. We allow a 50% contingency for archeogical work. Just spent nearly £20k trying top find the foundations of a demolished mill because the council didn't record it properly the first time!
However as you've said if they find any bats then you advise your clients to walk away and for you and them the issue is over. Someone still owns the site though and now they have a bat problem.In each case the planning condition has been satisfied and the development is underway.
Archeological investigations on the other hand, are a complete nightmare and they really are money for old rope with a typical watching brief costing £12k and delyaing the development by 6 weeks (average interest cost for 6 weeks £50k). Most of the archeological investigations have over run in cost terms and in time. We allow a 50% contingency for archeogical work. Just spent nearly £20k trying top find the foundations of a demolished mill because the council didn't record it properly the first time!
herewego said:
However as you've said if they find any bats then you advise your clients to walk away and for you and them the issue is over. Someone still owns the site though and now they have a bat problem.
Yep. Just liek if you have an inspection on a car you are about to buy and find the head gasket has gone. Owner now has a head gasket problem. He had it before the inspection but just didnt realise.The bat guys do not go and install bats!
blueg33 said:
herewego said:
However as you've said if they find any bats then you advise your clients to walk away and for you and them the issue is over. Someone still owns the site though and now they have a bat problem.
Yep. Just liek if you have an inspection on a car you are about to buy and find the head gasket has gone. Owner now has a head gasket problem. He had it before the inspection but just didnt realise.The bat guys do not go and install bats!
Timmy35 said:
blueg33 said:
herewego said:
However as you've said if they find any bats then you advise your clients to walk away and for you and them the issue is over. Someone still owns the site though and now they have a bat problem.
Yep. Just liek if you have an inspection on a car you are about to buy and find the head gasket has gone. Owner now has a head gasket problem. He had it before the inspection but just didnt realise.The bat guys do not go and install bats!
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