Bats to the rescue of the Black Horse pub (From St Helens Star)
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Bats to the rescue of Moss Bank's Black Horse pub - but developer could reurn with fresh bulldoze bid
5:33pm Wednesday 13th March 2013 in News By Stephen Mather, Senior reporter
Campaigners have bats to thanks for a demolition reprieve at The Black Horse pub.
NEIGHBOURS fighting to save a former pub are breathing a sigh of relief after it was given a temporary reprieve thanks to a colony of bats.
The Black Horse in Moss Bank has been facing demolition with the long term aim of building 16 luxury houses on the site with adjacent car parking.
However, with the third application to bulldoze the 300-year-old pub, recently thrown out, campaigners have been granted more time to continue their fight.
Not only should such an old building be protected, they argue, any new development will bring chaos to an already small road.
The decision to knock down the pub has been knocked back as it is very close to a bat colony and it is against the law to harm, disturb or destroy a bat roosting place.
Rita Allcock, secretary of the action group said: “We have been successful in putting back ‘D’ Day again. The planning office has refused the developers permission to demolish The Black Horse because they haven’t considered the bats.
“The bat survey stated clearly that another survey should take place in Spring, around April, May, as that is when the bats come out of their hibernation.
“I hope they wake up in time for the next attempt at demolition and come flying in their happy hunting ground in Moss Bank, as that could put a stop to the proposals the developers have to pull down our lovely old building.”
