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Bats in Botanics threaten to derail King development
 
Stefan King, below, may have to think again about plans for a club if species of tiny bats are found in the Botanics
Stefan King, below, may have to think again about plans for a club if species of tiny bats are found in the Botanics
 
 

by Graeme Murray

TWO species of bat could scupper millionaire Stefan King's plans for a bar and club in Glasgow's Botanic Gardens.

The body charged with the care of Scotland's landscape and heritage has contacted council bosses insisting they conduct a bat survey at the listed park before any planning application is prepared for the West End site.

Save Our Botanics campaigners claim there are two species of bat roosting in the Kelvindale tunnel, the common pipistrelle and Daubenton. Pipistrelles are among the smallest British bats with a wingspan of 20cm. They weigh the same as a 5p piece and eat up to 2000 midges a night.

Wildlife experts who organise visits to the Botanics claim it is "very possible" roosts are in the disused tunnels.

And if routine environmental checks identify a colony of any variety it could present another headache for the G1 Group's proposals for a bar and nightclub within the gardens.

Last week senior figures within the city council claimed the tunnels claimed do not belong to the council to give away and some of the site falls under Common Good land, protecting it from development.

Bats and their habitat are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and it is an offence to "intentionally" destroy any place that a bat uses for shelter or protection.

Any scheme to develop the tunnels would require the Scottish Government to award a licence for the removal of the roosts which could take months if not years to complete.

David Howat, a solicitor and leading figure within Save Our Botanics, added: "It seems to me that there would be great difficulty in developing the tunnel at the Botanic Gardens without disturbing the roosting bats.

"This may be another reason why nightclub project hits the buffers, quite apart from the fact that the tunnel may not actually be owned by Glasgow City Council in the first place."

A council spokesman said: "We would carry out an environmental assessment before planning. No-one has shown us any evidence that proves bats are roosting within the tunnels at the Botanics."

Publication date 29/11/07

Posted by: The Missing City, Glasgow on 11:14am Thu 29 Nov 07
This is all becoming a bit "Norah Batty!"
Posted by: KB, Glasgow on 11:14am Thu 29 Nov 07
Like a Bat out of Hell !!!
Posted by: glamkitty, Glasgow on 11:22am Thu 29 Nov 07
I would much, much rather have a park full of beautiful bats than yet another pointless nightclub.
Im sure lots of people must feel the same.
Posted by: VOICE OF REASON, glasgow on 11:23am Thu 29 Nov 07
If its not some de-funct legal term from the 1800's then its Bats...what will the campaigners against progress come up with next ?... bet these are the same folk who felt a misguided warm glow of success when the bandstand at Kelvingrove closed down all those years ago
Posted by: workinhard, Glasgow on 11:27am Thu 29 Nov 07
well done to the 'West-End' resistance brigade for their successful bat breeding programme.
Posted by: workinhard, Glasgow on 11:34am Thu 29 Nov 07
...wait, i've just had a telephone call from a contact in the hotel business who has advised me that a bloke called Bruce Wayne is apparently preparing a take-over bid for Oran Mhor - could this be connected to the bats in the Botanics?
Posted by: Renegade on 11:34am Thu 29 Nov 07
Another nightclub full of drunks will lead to many a *bat in the mouth* at closing time! :-p
Posted by: The Missing City, Glasgow on 12:39pm Thu 29 Nov 07
Batfink said his wings were like shield of steel and that nothing could harm him, well he might have to re-employ Karate to sort out the King not-so cool dude who's aiming to clear his cave!
Posted by: West Ender, Glasgow on 1:44pm Thu 29 Nov 07
Batanics.......what would we do without these caped crusaders?
Posted by: The Missing City, Glasgow on 1:56pm Thu 29 Nov 07
glamkitty wrote:
I would much, much rather have a park full of beautiful bats than yet another pointless nightclub. Im sure lots of people must feel the same.
You should get yourself on down to the Cathouse and hang out wi Batman!
Posted by: Wallace_Arnold, Glasgow on 2:03pm Thu 29 Nov 07
Is Stefan King doing anything with the Post Office in George Square? The council should block all proposals from him until this important landmark is made presentable again.
Posted by: Meep, Shawlands on 2:05pm Thu 29 Nov 07
Lets see: A council which broke its own rules on land sales. An arrogant businessman who is so arrogant he thinks he can buy and corrupt democracy. A possibility of the Glasgow council being refered to the Government Ombudsman. A historical law from Robert the Bruce which says the land is protected. You couldnt make it up. Like i said previously Botanic Gardens will not be sold. to do so would mean a LOT of muck being raked up by journalists and possibly the security services. And neither party wants that.... Botanic Gardens will not be sold.
Posted by: KB, Glasgow on 2:17pm Thu 29 Nov 07
Meep
Either you or I are getting old - I could not have put that better.
Posted by: The Missing City, Glasgow on 2:29pm Thu 29 Nov 07
Wallace_Arnold wrote:
Is Stefan King doing anything with the Post Office in George Square? The council should block all proposals from him until this important landmark is made presentable again.
It's Aleady Been Sold To Somebody Else Who Is Presently Constructing An Office Block Behind The Big Canvas That Covers The Entire Building, work started on that ages ago Mr Arnold!

Posted by: The Missing City, Glasgow on 2:31pm Thu 29 Nov 07
The Missing City wrote:
Wallace_Arnold wrote: Is Stefan King doing anything with the Post Office in George Square? The council should block all proposals from him until this important landmark is made presentable again.
It's Aleady Been Sold To Somebody Else Who Is Presently Constructing An Office Block Behind The Big Canvas That Covers The Entire Building, work started on that ages ago Mr Arnold!
Had it still been in his hands, who knows what state it would be in just now, but still if they could get that sorted, just shows that they can do something in this city if they get theor finger out, just ashame that other buildings have missed out, or probably not that important as they don't face the house of the Mob!
Posted by: Wallace_Arnold, Glasgow on 2:36pm Thu 29 Nov 07
It's been covered for so long that it's difficult to know what's going on behind the advertisements.

I presume he made a handsome profit on the sale of the building even though he did nothing with it.
Posted by: People Power, Glasgow on 2:56pm Thu 29 Nov 07
workinhard wrote:
well done to the 'West-End' resistance brigade for their successful bat breeding programme.
Do I detect a shred of cynicism here ? Surely not! If indeed these bats are present at the Botanics it will be more than a spanner in the works for Mr Cushy Kings Venture.

Lets just hope this survey bears fruit - (coming to think of it isn't their a breed of bat called the fruitbat too ?)

Anyway - it shouldn't even of come to this for GCC to be taught a lesson in ethics. If these greedy councillors couldn't see the wood for the trees and realise the greed of this entrepreneur then more fool them for allowing this venture to get as far.

Lets hope the clowns at Glasgows Planning Department get towed back into line and see the error of their thinking ways.

LEAVE GLASGOWS DEAR GREEN SPACES ALONE AND BUTCHER THE COUNCILLORS BACK GARDENS - I'm SURE COUNCILLOR PURCELLS GREEN SPACE IS JUST WAITING TO BE CUT UP AND SOLD OFF TO THE NEAREST BIDDER - LOL :-)
AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT HIS GARDEN EITHER!
Posted by: glamkitty, Glasgow on 2:57pm Thu 29 Nov 07
The Missing City wrote:
glamkitty wrote: I would much, much rather have a park full of beautiful bats than yet another pointless nightclub. Im sure lots of people must feel the same.
You should get yourself on down to the Cathouse and hang out wi Batman!
I used to go there in the early 90s, but its no fun there now unless youre about 17...
Posted by: People Power, Glasgow ( unfortunately) on 3:04pm Thu 29 Nov 07
Meep wrote:
Lets see: A council which broke its own rules on land sales. An arrogant businessman who is so arrogant he thinks he can buy and corrupt democracy. A possibility of the Glasgow council being refered to the Government Ombudsman. A historical law from Robert the Bruce which says the land is protected. You couldnt make it up. Like i said previously Botanic Gardens will not be sold. to do so would mean a LOT of muck being raked up by journalists and possibly the security services. And neither party wants that.... Botanic Gardens will not be sold.
And I echo Meep's sentiments also!
The farcical hypocritical legislation that our Council comes up with to suit itself speaks volumes for the state we are in today.

Corruption, hypocrisy, lies and spin all part of todays modren politics - any shred of decency or honesty is running dangerously low.
And we wonder why the disinterest in politics, and public apathy generally is this bad . . .
Heres one of the many reasons!!
Posted by: The Missing City, Glasgow on 3:44pm Thu 29 Nov 07
glamkitty wrote:
The Missing City wrote:
glamkitty wrote: I would much, much rather have a park full of beautiful bats than yet another pointless nightclub. Im sure lots of people must feel the same.
You should get yourself on down to the Cathouse and hang out wi Batman!
I used to go there in the early 90s, but its no fun there now unless youre about 17...
Very true, I went there myself back in 1995
Posted by: The Missing City, Glasgow on 3:49pm Thu 29 Nov 07
People Power wrote:
workinhard wrote: well done to the 'West-End' resistance brigade for their successful bat breeding programme.
Do I detect a shred of cynicism here ? Surely not! If indeed these bats are present at the Botanics it will be more than a spanner in the works for Mr Cushy Kings Venture. Lets just hope this survey bears fruit - (coming to think of it isn't their a breed of bat called the fruitbat too ?) Anyway - it shouldn't even of come to this for GCC to be taught a lesson in ethics. If these greedy councillors couldn't see the wood for the trees and realise the greed of this entrepreneur then more fool them for allowing this venture to get as far. Lets hope the clowns at Glasgows Planning Department get towed back into line and see the error of their thinking ways. LEAVE GLASGOWS DEAR GREEN SPACES ALONE AND BUTCHER THE COUNCILLORS BACK GARDENS - I'm SURE COUNCILLOR PURCELLS GREEN SPACE IS JUST WAITING TO BE CUT UP AND SOLD OFF TO THE NEAREST BIDDER - LOL :-) AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT HIS GARDEN EITHER!
Miss Power, I think you will find that his "Green Space is actually a "Brownfield" site featuring a well used "Bournville Boulevard" which is waiting to be sold off to the nearest bidder! No takers on here thankfully! BOAK!!!
Posted by: pete, Bearsden on 3:52pm Thu 29 Nov 07
Thats quite handy that these bats eat up to 2000 midges a night - much more useful than Stefan King (who has the Council in his back pocket.)
Posted by: The Missing City, Glasgow on 4:11pm Thu 29 Nov 07
The Missing City wrote:
People Power wrote:
workinhard wrote: well done to the 'West-End' resistance brigade for their successful bat breeding programme.
Do I detect a shred of cynicism here ? Surely not! If indeed these bats are present at the Botanics it will be more than a spanner in the works for Mr Cushy Kings Venture. Lets just hope this survey bears fruit - (coming to think of it isn't their a breed of bat called the fruitbat too ?) Anyway - it shouldn't even of come to this for GCC to be taught a lesson in ethics. If these greedy councillors couldn't see the wood for the trees and realise the greed of this entrepreneur then more fool them for allowing this venture to get as far. Lets hope the clowns at Glasgows Planning Department get towed back into line and see the error of their thinking ways. LEAVE GLASGOWS DEAR GREEN SPACES ALONE AND BUTCHER THE COUNCILLORS BACK GARDENS - I'm SURE COUNCILLOR PURCELLS GREEN SPACE IS JUST WAITING TO BE CUT UP AND SOLD OFF TO THE NEAREST BIDDER - LOL :-) AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT HIS GARDEN EITHER!
Miss Power, I think you will find that his "Green Space is actually a "Brownfield" site featuring a well used "Bournville Boulevard" which is waiting to be sold off to the nearest bidder! No takers on here thankfully! BOAK!!!
On top of that Miss Power, I think its fair to say that he's had his "Back Door" kicked in several times and has been spat on as well, and to be honest, I don't think neighbourhood watch or the polis are paying any attention!
Posted by: mulross, Glasgow on 4:13pm Thu 29 Nov 07
Wallace_Arnold wrote:
It's been covered for so long that it's difficult to know what's going on behind the advertisements.

I presume he made a handsome profit on the sale of the building even though he did nothing with it.
Yep - think it was something in the region of six million pounds. And that's not including the revenue from advertising all the years that it was in his possession and the building was left to rot.

According to the Council website it was Steven Purcell who finally "persuaded" Mr King to sell to other interested parties. Now, I wonder how he managed to do that........
Posted by: The Missing City, Glasgow on 4:16pm Thu 29 Nov 07
mulross wrote:
Wallace_Arnold wrote: It's been covered for so long that it's difficult to know what's going on behind the advertisements. I presume he made a handsome profit on the sale of the building even though he did nothing with it.
Yep - think it was something in the region of six million pounds. And that's not including the revenue from advertising all the years that it was in his possession and the building was left to rot. According to the Council website it was Steven Purcell who finally "persuaded" Mr King to sell to other interested parties. Now, I wonder how he managed to do that........
He offerd him some personal "Brownspace" at bargain prices!
Posted by: gsteve2001, Glasgow on 5:51pm Thu 29 Nov 07
The Missing City - no rants from you today then about the "Irish immigrant conspiracy" or "star of David" nonsense. The tablets must finally be working.
Posted by: Raven, Saigon on 8:39pm Thu 29 Nov 07
I think people should take wee step back and think about this. It would appear that journalists are whipping this thing up into a frenzy. Journailsts have a duty to report the facts, truthfully and honestly, all that I have read in this paper and their sister paper is half truths and **** lies. Catch a grip chaps, the next thing you will be reporting is that the platform in the tunnel is where the train leaves for to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, maybe the bats belong to Harry Potter
quote
Posted by: jonny bond, glasgow on 11:34pm Thu 29 Nov 07
I am having fits of laughter that all anyone needs to do to stop a development taking place is to dig a cave and fill it with bats and bobs yer uncle the council can't do a thing. It would not surprise me if this little nuggat of information is exactly the sort of thing the corrupt council could not live with. Got a footie park you want to protect from the theiving council then dig a bat cave and its as untouchable as well something untouchable. Unless the council send in the anti bat brigade so they can sell off your pitch.
Posted by: jonny bond, glasgow on 11:35pm Thu 29 Nov 07
Or claim the batcave was dug without planning permission.
Posted by: jonny bond, glasgow on 11:36pm Thu 29 Nov 07
Do you need planning permission for a batcave and did the tunnel makers have the afforementioned permission.
Posted by: The Missing City, Glasgow on 9:21am Fri 30 Nov 07
gsteve2001 wrote:
The Missing City - no rants from you today then about the "Irish immigrant conspiracy" or "star of David" nonsense. The tablets must finally be working.
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

I say, the ol chap has his PC hat on

This post is not a subject of racism against a group of people who have been treated with contempt and hatred since the "Golden" days of when Brittainia ruled the wvaves, nor to fly digs at people who have opiniuns on how others spend their money in relation to risking their lives

Thank you for your concern, however I don't do b1tches!

;-)
Posted by: workinhard, Glasgow on 9:26am Fri 30 Nov 07
jonny bond wrote:
Do you need planning permission for a batcave and did the tunnel makers have the afforementioned permission.
batcaves are exempt under clause 23 article 14 of the Planning (Scotland) Act which states 'any subterrainian development associated with the habitation of noctural species may proceed under permitted development procedures'!
Posted by: The Watcher, Nimbyland on 10:33am Fri 30 Nov 07
The West End Nimbys are really working hard on this one, encouraged by the Evening Times. You know, the paper that tells us how Glasgow is such a fun city to live un with great nightlife.
Ironically, both the Nimbys and the ETs actions will only keep the Tunnel as it is, ie a home for illegal parties rife with drugs.
Oops.
Posted by: Roy Batty, Glasgow on 1:04pm Fri 30 Nov 07
"Pipistrelles eat up to 2000 midges a night."


I'm so proud of my rellies:-)

However, a week after the campaigners rlease to the press that they aim to be a thorn in the side of the Botanic's proposal , they claim that bats are roosting there.

Hmmmm...I don't know about anyone else, but I smell a bat!!!
Posted by: West Ender, Glasgow on 1:56pm Fri 30 Nov 07
workinhard wrote:
jonny bond wrote: Do you need planning permission for a batcave and did the tunnel makers have the afforementioned permission.
batcaves are exempt under clause 23 article 14 of the Planning (Scotland) Act which states 'any subterrainian development associated with the habitation of noctural species may proceed under permitted development procedures'!
Except in the West End!
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