Badger sett will be retained "if possible" says consortium seeking to revamp abandoned theme park

                                                                           

Pleasure Island - now a haven for badgers, bats, birds and bees

THE consortium seeking to redevelop the former Pleasure Island theme park in Cleethorpes has pledged to safeguard the family of badgers that has made its home on the site.

In a statement designed to reassure North East Lincolnshire Council planners, Lichfields, agents for the project, say: "It is intended to retain the existing badger sett if possible.

"During construction a 30-metre buffer will be placed around the sett to limit disturbance.

"Foraging opportunities will be retained to allow movement through the site and to provide escape routes from excavation." 

Mr Brock is not the only wildlife concern for the developers. Bats are abundant as are birds - the Pleasure Island dawn chorus in spring and summer being  one of the richest in North East Lincolnshire.

Since closing, it is thought the former theme park could now also be providing a habitat for butterflies, bees, water voles, various amphibian and reptile species and possibly even slow worms.

How will these creatures will be able to co-exist with the guests at the 273 holiday lodges earmarked for the site? 

Although it has not yet provided any details, Lichfields is confident these creatures can be safeguarded by means of "new habitat creation" and provision of "nesting oppportunities".

The future of the main fine trees and shrubs is, however, another matter.

The consortium, headed by the Lidl  supermarket chain, hopes to submit a formal planning application in the coming weeks.