Newt alert: Fences for rare creatures

From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Friday 3rd Jan 2003.

ENGINEERS in charge of constructing the multi-million pound Semington bypass could be fined up to £2,000 for every protected newt they harm or kill.

Wiltshire County Council highway chiefs are working on plans to protect a colony of great crested newts from diggers, which are due to move in next month.

Newt-proof fencing will be put up around the bypass to stop the newts straying onto building sites when they wake from hibernation in January.

Any newts still in the building zones will be caught under specially designed newt mats and moved to safety.

Highway chiefs recruited a specialist ecological consultant to help with the project and had to apply for a licence from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to exclude the newts from the bypass route.

The Conservation Consultancy Ltd is carrying out the work for the county council.

Great crested newts are protected under stringent laws and anyone harming or killing one can be fined up to £2,000.

Highway engineers also plan to put-up fencing along large stretches of the bypass to stop newts, badgers and foxes from straying onto the road. Peter Binley, county council principal engineer, said: "It is important we ensure these newts are properly protected.

This ingenious scheme will mean work on the Semington bypass can start on time without harming them or their habitat."

The 4km link road will take away an estimated six million cars from Berryfield and Semington.

Transport secretary Alistair Darling approved the road in August after a public consultation exercise.

A multi-million pound contract to construct the route was awarded to Alfred McAlpine Civil Engineering in the summer. A three-span bridge will carry the road over Semington Brook and an aqueduct will be built to take the Kennet and Avon canal over the bypass.

Ringway Parkman will oversee the project.

Work to divert the canal was started in January by county council contractors so building work did not clash with the lucrative boating season. The scheme will include new roundabouts at Melksham.

Engineers will hold a sod-cutting ceremony in January to mark the start of building work.

The link road could be completed by the end of next year.

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