Clinton Rogers: 'How far should we go to protect wildlife?'

Clinton Rogers questions how far wildlife protection should go, arguing that some measures can delay practical public works. She cites the M5 near Taunton, where barriers were in place for months to restrict traffic flow, while little or no work proceeded. According to the account, the project was paused in February after dormice were discovered, stalling a £5.9 million flood-safety scheme until it was allowed to restart recently. Rogers says National Highways had to obtain a license from Natural England to remove the dormice habitat and relocate them, and she questions the time required to move what she describes as a single nest. She compares the situation to her reporting experience at the Hinkley Point C site, where protections for bats and other protected wildlife included a “bat bridge” and large wooden bat boxes. She also criticizes thorny hedges and says farmers are generally told not to cut during bird nesting season, leading to delayed maintenance until September, which can push pedestrians into unsafe roadways.