Bat survey for Stevenage Fairlands Valley lighting to cost £15k

Last year, Stevenage Borough Council was presented with a petition signed by more than 1,300 people calling for paths in Fairlands Valley Park to be lit up after dark, and the authority agreed to consider the proposal.

But, after the park’s bat population was identified as being of “county importance”, it was concluded that a full survey of the animals would be needed before lighting could be added.

Fairlands Valley Park in Stevenage (Image: Jennifer Huygen) At a council meeting last week (Wednesday, October 16), cabinet member for the environment Cllr Simon Speller told his colleagues the cost of the survey would be £15,000.

He said: “There are at least eight species of bats in the woods at Fairlands Valley Park and that provides us with a massive environmental and ecological challenge. It is illegal to disturb bat habitats if they are light sensitive.”

Cllr Speller said funding for the survey should be available next year as part of the council’s capital budget. 

Cllr Simon Speller (Image: Stevenage Borough Council) He said he “doesn’t see too many difficulties” with installing lighting in the middle and upper sections of the park, but added: “We do accept that what we’ll be able to do in the bottom bit of the valley, between Six Hills Way and the football ground, might have to be appropriately restricted.”

Following the survey, a lighting consultant would have to be engaged by the council, with further funding also potentially necessary.

The initial petition, presented to the council by Jennifer Huygen, had cited safety concerns as a key reason for supporting lights in the park.

According to data given to Cllr Speller by Hertfordshire police, 191 crimes have been reported as taking place within Fairlands Valley Park in the last five years, with 33 of those taking place in the dark.

He said Hertfordshire police’s crime prevention design advisor had recommended “that people stick to main roads and pathways, and should never take shortcuts through parks, even if they are well lit”.

But Cllr Speller said the council needs “to honour the spirit of [Jennifer’s] petition” and noted: “While there is no legal duty to provide lighting in parks, it is acknowledged that in certain situations it may be required on safety grounds – and I think that was proven by Jennifer last year.”