I should like to inform the council that I have witnessed a number of bats flying between Smith's Covert (Hatton Park) and the rear of the properties on Honington Close (occasionally also to the front of these properties). I have lived on Honington Close since September 2006 and sightings have been made regularly each year. I should be grateful if you could document these observations, as I believe bats reside in and around Smith's Covert and any further development encroaching near to Smith's Covert may threaten their habitat thereby adversely undermining what should be designated, if not already, a Local Wildlife Site (Smith's Covert).

I would like to draw your attention to page 67 of the Warwick District Habitat Assessment Habitat Biodiversity Audit Partnership for Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull c/o Warwickshire Museum Field Services The Butts, Warwick, CV34 4SS August - published October 2008:

"Bats can be found in many buildings and trees, even those that initially appear to be unsuitable. Bats and their roost sites are protected under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act, the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 and the Habitat Regulations 1994, the latter of which deems them a European Protected Species. Therefore it is recommended that a pre-determinative bat survey of the buildings, woodland and mature trees is undertaken at an appropriate time of year by a qualified ecologist.

Recommendations The three pLWS/SINCs (Smiths Covert SP26N2, Budbrooke Farm Woodlands and Black Brake Plantation SP26T1 and Brownley Green Lane SP26N1) should be retained and a buffer zone implemented to prevent direct or indirect impact on the sites."

Available at: http://www.warwickdc.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/3AD13473-716B-41DA-BCF2-5C607D78CDEC/0/WarwickDistrictHabitatAssessmentstandardsizereduced.pdf