Bat Dossier Submitted to Police as Piddington Asylum Camp Plans Face Ecological Challenge

Villagers opposing plans for an asylum reception centre at a former Ministry of Defence site in Piddington, Oxfordshire, have handed a dossier to Thames Valley Police alleging wildlife offences after ecologists recorded rare barbastelle bat activity and uncovered official records of multiple protected bat species on and adjacent to the site.

Campaigners' Evidence

Campaigners say ecologists recorded bat echolocation calls during the past month and located environmental records documenting the presence of barbastelle bats and at least 11 other protected bat species. They have submitted this evidence to police and asked the local environmental records office to independently verify the findings.

Residents also allege that Home Office contractors illuminated the site with bright floodlights on two consecutive nights at the weekend, potentially disturbing feeding and roosting bats and breaching wildlife protection laws.

Piddington residents allege Home Office contractors disturbed endangered bats by shining bright floodlights on the site

Local Response And Legal Action

Piddington’s roughly 350 residents recently held a symbolic vote to leave the UK in protest at proposals to convert the nearby garrison into accommodation for up to 1,256 male asylum seekers. The local campaign group Wrong Plan Wrong Site has sent a pre-action letter to the Home Office and says one of its main grounds for legal challenge is the alleged failure to carry out adequate ecological surveys. Campaigners also warn they may challenge the plan over the possible presence of protected great crested newts.

Janet Chamdal, chair of Wrong Plan Wrong Site, said: "The Home Office is progressing an urgent crown development application before all necessary ecological surveys, environmental assessments and site-suitability investigations have been completed. Since the pre-action letter was issued specifying protected bats have been found on the site, the area has been floodlit at night for two consecutive evenings, which can only disturb the bats and their feeding patterns. We want the Home Office to explain why the site was lit and how it will provide a proper ecological assessment."

Official Responses And Legal Context

A Home Office spokesman said ecological surveys were ongoing and that "preliminary ecological surveys have identified no recorded protected species present on the site, and a licence is only required if officially identified. It has been concluded use of the site is unlikely to have a significant impact on the environment."

Thames Valley Police said: "Enquiries are ongoing and the incident is currently being investigated."

Piddington's 350 residents symbolically voted to leave the UK in protest against the plans - PA Wire/Joe Giddens

Under UK law, deliberately or recklessly disturbing a protected species or its habitat is a criminal offence. Developers may only proceed with works that could affect protected species if they obtain a licence from Natural England, which can demand mitigation measures or other conditions, including relocation where appropriate.

Why Barbastelles Matter

Barbastelle bats are listed on the endangered "red" list. Their scarcity has had major planning consequences: last year Norfolk County Council cancelled the proposed £274m Norwich Western Link after a barbastelle colony was discovered along the planned route.

Next Steps

Police investigation and independent verification of environmental records are under way. The outcome will be material to any legal challenge and to whether the Home Office can proceed with development without additional surveys, mitigation or licensing from Natural England.