Prince Charles’ plans to convert his £1.2 million Welsh farmhouse suffered a set back when he came to know that proceeding wth building works will disturb bats residing there.So the conservationist Prince has now come up with an ideal solution .He plans to build these bats a new home. For this he intends to buy a nearby shed which will provide a cosy shelter to these bats. Prince hopes that it will be enough to satisfy bat experts and planning chiefs .

Planning permission to convert buildings on princes’ remote llwynywormwood estate was put on hold after strictly protected common pipistrelle and brown long eared bats in an outbuilding.The applicaion was deferred by a week when councillors decided they wanted to visit this 190 acre estate.

The Prince,whose Duchy of Cornwall estate has applied to convert the house and surrounding buildings into a into a £2 million luxury 11-bed holiday complex was forced to consult a bat expert to asses if it was possible for construction work to begin without disturbing these resident bats .

Details of scheme to protect the bats have not yet been submitted but it has been learnt that ,in order to accomadate them the building work will begin after post breeding period of 2007 so that baby bats become mature enough to adapt to their new home in September.

The site choosen for the relocation of bats is an existing masonary wallef,newly re-roofed barn known as “Bakehouse barn” which will be adapted to provide bat roost potential in a specially made attic space.

One of the important aspect of relocating bats is that their new home should be in their current flight path and bakehouse barn ,which is 80 metres away from bats’ current roost is said to be perfet beacuse it is known to them.

When work will finally begin on the old building ,the slates will be carefully removed by hand to avoid disturbing the bats and wall tops will be left exposed for twenty four hours to allow bats to relocate before roof is stripped.

The Duchy furthe promises that an experienced and skilled bat worker will be present at all time to enure all bat protection issues are addressed.

The planning application is to convert a cow shed and series of iron bars into three holiday cottages .The old farmhouse which the Prince and Duchess of Cornwall will use when in residence will not be given to public .The complex will also include an enviormentally-friendly confrence centre.

Via:Telegraph