Of major concern is the effect the A477 road improvement scheme between Nash Fingerpost and Bangeston will have on local wildlife. Sadly, due to the extent of the work being carried out, wildlife will inevitably suffer. The temporary loss of resting sites, foraging habitats, disturbance to present territorial boundaries of the badger and loss of mature hedgerows, which supply bats with an abundant insect fauna and provide a vital navigational aid, will cause much disruption within the animal kingdom. However, what could have been a monumental disaster for a variety of wildlife has had its impact limited by an extensive Ecological Impact Assessment prepared by David Clements on behalf of TAPC (Town and Country Planning), and the resulting implementation of mitigation measures such as enlarged underground culverts or crossings for otters and badgers, and siting of bat corridors. Many existing culverts are silted up and there is much evidence that otters and badgers frequently undergo the risky business of crossing the road above ground, making them susceptible to road casualty. The new underground crossings have been greatly improved. Crossings for otters are fitted with shelves allowing them access above water as well as in the water. Badger culverts, in addition to being of greater diameter, have built-in soakaways, and ramped access-ways on either side of the entrance. Specific badger proof fencing is installed on both sides of the road to direct the new users into their tunnels and radically cut down on road casualties. However, Joy Hands, a local badger consultant, is concerned that badgers may not adapt to these new routes and claims it is undesirable to disturb badgers between November and June due to them having young. Bats are especially vulnerable to disturbance, relying on hedges, particularly those with mature trees, to provide them with a diverse and abundant food source, rot holes and woodpecker holes, which they can use as their roost. At least four species of bats are identified as having a marked tendency to follow linear features on the ground using navigational flight lines between roosts and feeding areas. The installation of four- metre high deflective barrier fencing and additional plantings of native tree species is specifically designed to guide the bats through the corridor, which will encourage safe access under the new road to reduce bat deaths, by motor vehicles. Greater and Lesser Horseshoe bats currently cross the A477 profile at approximately 0.5m above ground level. Providing a safe crossing point below road level could reduce road kill substantially. Elsewhere in the country, Greater Horseshoe bats successfully fly through culverts of sufficient size, as long as no deviation of route is caused. Following completion of the new road, hedges and banks will be created to an equivalent length to those lost. They will be planted with woody species to reflect the native regional situation and would be generally encouraged to form tall, dense, woody canopies, which is locally typical. No doubt, given time, this sympathetic treatment will result in the restoration of a species rich habitat.
