FLINTSHIRE Council has responded to concerns raised about the plight of bats known to roost on the exterior of County Hall as part of it is demolished.

The Leader reported last summer about the fact a report by wildlife experts uncovered at least 13 roosts in empty parts of the Mold complex it is preparing to demolish, as well as around 100 other possible locations they could settle.

However, Flintshire Council says no bats have been recorded at the demolition site to date.

It says bat boxes have been installed around the County Hall complex and that bats are currently present in the buildings unaffected by the demolition work.

The Leader:

It comes after local ecologist Stuart Spray contacted the Leader to raise concerns over bats amid the ongoing demolition of parts of County Hall.

Due to the high number of potential roosting spots, Mr Spray recommended that only a soft demolition of the offices be carried out.

The buildings being demolished were vacated two years ago when hundreds of staff were relocated to the old Unilever site on St David’s Park in Ewloe.

A Flintshire Council spokesman said: "The demolition work underway at County Hall is being carried out by the Contractor under licence from Natural Resources Wales and in close liaison with the

the council’s Ecologist.

"No bats have been recorded at the demolition site to date.

"A variety of bat boxes have been installed around the County Hall complex and bats are present in the buildings unaffected by the demolition work."