THE sightings of two rare species of bat at Stover Country Park, near Newton Abbot, is being checked by the park's rangers and wildlife experts. There are already seven known species of bat in the area and the bat population is being monitored during the next couple of months. A spokeswoman for Devon County Council said on Wednesday that it was all speculative at the moment and the rangers did not want to make any comment at this stage. At Newton Abbot Town Council Planning Committee on Tuesday, the mayor, Cllr Daphne Watts, said that in the past week two new species of bat had been discovered at Stover, bringing the number of species to nine. She was discussing the possible ecological effects of an application by Stover Golf Club for the change of use of a timber yard and private amenity land to a golf course, at Ice House Copse, Stover. The committee was told that it would involve an extension to the third hole, there would be a new fourth hole and the fifth hole would encroach into the new land. Cllr Watts said she had a number of concerns, but in principle would not want to oppose the extension. 'They talk about the removal of mature oak trees and the removal of sections of two hedgerows. 'The bats are far-ranging over feeding areas and it is going to require quite careful consideration and recommendations from the planning side to make sure they do this in a proper manner,' she said. Cllr Watts said two investigations had been carried out but during the time of year they were taken neither would have picked up any migratory birds coming in or the two new varieties of bats that had come into the area. 'Neither Devon Wildlife or the Stover rangers know what the flight lines are for the feeding ranges of these new bats. 'I am worried they will have destroyed these flight lines before we have the chance to do anything about it,' she added. Planning officer Naomi Harnett said the case officer had not yet assessed the application, but she assured members that the effect on the habitat would be considered. The committee agreed that it was broadly in favour of the application subject to strict conditions being introduced on ecological matters.
