Bats delay Featherstone flats demolition job

Wakefield District Housing (WDH) is hoping to bulldoze the 23 flats at Jaglin Court, off Little Lane, in Featherstone but the application was rejected by planning officials at Wakefield Council.

The report says insufficient details were provided about the amount of dust and noise created by the work, but WDH says the bats were the main issue.

Sue Young, WDH’s executive director of investment, said: “As part of our routine survey of the site, we identified bats were present.

“These will be safely rehoused next year before any work begins and we will be resubmitting our planning application in the new year.”

WDH hopes to flatten the former homes which were built for the elderly but had fallen into major disrepair.

New dwellings could eventually be built on the vacant land.