HS2 vs. rare species of bat

CIE

Telegraph

Specifically, the Bechstein's Bat. And why do so-called "environmental" groups like "Natural England" get government funds?

corktina

because their work is as important at least as a railway line.you can make new trains, you cant make new bats.

CIE

corktina wrote: »

because their work is as important at least as a railway line.you can make new trains, you cant make new bats.

New bats can make themselves without human help. Trains, not so much.

corktina

thats ridiculous.If you put a train line through the habitat of a rare speices, there wont be any bats to reproduce . Its important to have watchdogs like this one to make sure things dont get destroyed for commercial gain like they used to.... not just wildlife, but antiquities too...

CIE

corktina wrote: »

If you put a train line through the habitat of a rare speices (sic), there won(')t be any bats to reproduce

Now if you actually believe that, can I also get you to believe that I can conjure Guinness out of thin air?

They were saying similar stuff about putting Luas on the former Harcourt Street Railway, remember. All sorts of species of birds and mammals were in danger of extinction... :pac: Guess what: Bats (and other species, especially of birds) can fly. A single train on a high-speed railway isn't going to run all the bats down, or suddenly render them sterile.

Cookie_Monster

The point is their current breeding habitat will be presumably destroyed by the line being built. Since they are so rare the requirements for breeding areas are probably pretty defined or else they'd breed more and be more widespread.

It could be the it's the only suitable site (cave?) for 100's of miles...

Even if it is not destroyed the noise and vibration caused by the trains may affect the bats so much that they don't breed.

It's definitely a valid concern that needs to be addressed, certainly a much more valid one than some of the silly archaeological ones that come up often enough.

CIE

None of that will happen.

Cookie_Monster

CIE wrote: »

None of that will happen.

how do you know?

CIE

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

how do you know?

If you can cite a single instance of bat populations being decimated due to a railway line (even so-called "rare" bats), by all means show us. Powered railways have been around for the better part of 180 years, and they don't have any significant impact on any wildlife. Not even motorways do. They'll keep on breeding, unless a cause that is not related to humans makes them cease to do so.

As far as bats go, their current greatest enemy is a fungal infection known as white-nose syndrome, and AFAIK that has not reached the UK.

corktina

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

how do you know?

exactly....how do you know? Thats why theres (oops soory there is) a study being called for. You cant (oh wait I forgot the ' ) just abitarily (thats spelt wrong ) state "sure they'll be OK they'll just fly out the way" The wildlife people want a study made to see what the effect on them would be if their HABITAT is damaged.

(btw correcting peoples spelling and grammar, not nice....)


oh and btw..."trains not so much" ?

CIE

You lads are a riot. Automatic NIMBYism when it comes to railways...where were ye when they were building the M3 through the Hill of Tara though? C'mon, luddism and false environmental outrage can't be limited to railways.

corktina

you do talk rot. The proposal was to drive the motorway through the valley in which the hill of tara sits., not the avtual hill.back under your bridge mate

Cookie_Monster

How is it NIMBYism, it's a different country ffs. And the m3 isn't even visible from the hill of tara...


Why even post this if you've no interest in discussing it properly rather than simply trying to make fun of posters?

Victor

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

It could be the it's the only suitable site (cave?) for 100's of miles...

I don't know about Bechstein's, but most bats live in cracks in buildings and (mature) trees.

Bats are important as an insect control measure, whihc in turn is an important disease control measure.

purplepanda

Don't know why they don't rebuild the Great Central Mainline between London & the North of England ?? Would be easier & cheaper IMO!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Central_Main_Line_%28diagram%29

CIE

purplepanda wrote: »

Don't know why they don't rebuild the Great Central Mainline between London & the North of England ?? Would be easier & cheaper IMO!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Central_Main_Line_%28diagram%29

If it's straight enough, then they don't have any real excuse not to. Especially if it turns out to be a money-saver. Then they can stop their batty talk.

dermo88

I really do not have polite words to describe these antics.