The UK government's plan to build a bat shelter costing over £100 million near HS2 in Buckinghamshire has been met with harsh criticism from Environment Secretary Steve Reed, who labelled it 'batshit crazy.' The structure, described by HS2 Ltd's chair as a shed, aims to protect bats by allowing their safe passage over the high-speed railway. Reed argues that while wildlife protection is vital, urgent public service needs should not be neglected. He advocates for a balanced approach where infrastructure development can coexist with environmental concerns, pushing for proper consultations in future projects like a possible third runway at Heathrow Airport.
I mean, (to spend) that vast amount of money on a tunnel for bats when there were so many other public services crying out for funding - it's batshit crazy.
It's not either or, it's not growth or nature or the environment. We can do the two together.
If there were any proposal like that, then there would be a proper consultation, hopefully not lasting decades as it has done previously.
The previous government didn't have a grip on the public finances, didn't have a grip on infrastructure projects, and didn't really have a grip on what was happening to nature either.
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