Compromise offered over bat problem (From Gazette & Herald)

Compromise offered over bat problem

BAT droppings will be cleaned from St Hilda's church in Ellerburn this month by a bat protection group, as interested parties bid to resolve the on-going problem.

The North Yorkshire Bat Group, which carried out a survey on the bats inhabiting the church on behalf of English Nature, has offered to attempt to remove droppings built up over time before the end of June.

Churchgoers say the mess is driving worshippers away and three cleaners recently quit after it got too much for them.

"Once we have had a go, it will be easier to assess what needs to be done in the future and we can try and find a solution that suits everyone," said John Druid, chairman of the bat group.

Previous offers of a cleaning service by English Nature have been rejected by church-wardens, who said they didn't want public money to be spent on the cleaning.

Conservation officer Simon Christian said he wants to attend the next meeting of the PCC to try and resolve the problem and added: "The churchgoers do have English Nature's sympathy and we recognise the problems there are in the church."

As well as offers of a cleaning service, English Nature has offered to provide washable covers for parts of the church, the cleaning of which it would take responsibility for.

But church warden Wilf Garbutt does not believe this is satisfactory.

"I'm not convinced they would be cleaned when we needed them - for example if we had a funeral," he said.

"And besides, in a church that old, part of the attraction is the ancient woodwork - we don't want to cover it up."

He said the church wardens had agreed to allow the bat group to clean the church before making any further decisions.

With regard to the bats' future in the church, Mr Christian said: "I have also suggested that English Nature help the church to fund an independent consultation, which would be required to apply for a licence to DEFRA."

The licence is needed before work is carried out which may affect endangered species, as are the Natterer's bats which occupy and soil the church. With a licence, the church council would be able to stop the bats entering the church if a number of requirements were fulfilled.

"We don't want them to do that, and if they did choose to do it, we would require evidence that the bats had another place to go," said Mr Christian.

"Ultimately, we are just trying to find a solution that suits everyone as best we can."

Updated: 12:35 Wednesday, June 16, 2004