Newbury hedgehog holes will be 'over burdening' for planners

Hedgehogs will have to fight another day for a super highway through Newbury.

The town council has had its attempts to get holes put in fences in new developments to help save the creatures.

But West Berkshire Council, which is the planning authority has said no, citing the National Planning Policy Framework as a reason.

They told the town council that to impose such conditions on planning applications would be ‘an overburdening condition’.

But councillors on Newbury Town Council’s planning and highways committee vowed to fight on for the hedgehogs.

“I just don't accept that putting a 13cm hole in a fence is overburdening for our planners,” said Gary Norman (Lib Dem, Wash Common ).

They agreed to pursue the matter further, and also to included it in the developing neighbourhood plan for Newbury.

The town council had previously unanimously voted to request future developments make provisions for hedgehogs – and other small mammals – in fences.

This fencing would include a 13cm hole in the bottom that allows hedgehogs to move freely between gardens to find food and find a mate.