Council plans to upgrade historic Scartho Cemetery buildings delayed after discovery of roosting bats

                            

Special measures will ensure that cemetery's long-established bat population is not made homeless  

THE discovery of roosting bats has set back North East Lincolnshire Council plans to refurbish the historic lodge and chapel buildings in Scartho.

In summer, the authority announced a scheme to bring back to life the two properties which have stood empty and semi-derelict for 15 years, as well as the Cemetery Chapel and Waiting Rooms.

The project included  restoration and conservation of the internal and external structure and fabric elements including masonry, roofing, windows and doors and rainwater goods.

However, work has been put on hold following the discovery of roosting brown long-eared bats and a smaller species, as yet unidentified.

The works will still go ahead but only after measures have been put in place to ensure the creatures are not displaced from their home of many years.

Another downside for NELC that it will have to postpone the launch of its own funeral service because Cemetery Lodge is where it is due to be based.

On the upside, the discovery of these unusual and delightful flying mammals shows that wildlife, of all descriptions, continues to flourish in and around Grimsby.