Campaigners look set to lose their fight for a squirrel bridge across a Fife town’s new link road.
A bridge which would have allowed red squirrels to safely cross the road under construction at North Haugh in St Andrews was part of the plan when the route was approved two years ago.
However, after trees were felled to make way for the road, the population of the animals declined and developers St Andrews West said the crossing was no longer needed.
Fife Council’s north east planning committee has been asked to remove the scheme from planning conditions when councillors meet on Wednesday.
As a statutory consultee, St Andrews Community Council (STACC) objected to the move.
The group’s planning convener Penny Uprichard said the removal of the squirrel bridge from the planning conditions was “deplorable”.
“It is hardly surprising that there is now no evidence of red squirrels within the A91 woodland strip,” she said.
“A significant number of the trees in the arboretum were cut down to facilitate the building of the link road, with no regard for the red squirrels, which are critically endangered, and other protected species whose habitat it was.”
Miss Uprichard said the number of red squirrels in the United Kingdom had dropped from about 3.5 million in the mid-1950s to about 120,000 today, largely due to predators, viruses, and changes to the landscape.
“Among the reasons given for not going ahead with the squirrel bridge are ‘visual impact’ and the cost of maintenance,” she added.
“When we consider some of the monstrosities which have been imposed on St Andrews in the last 20 years, the impact of a squirrel bridge, which would undoubtedly be a great tourist attraction, would be minimal.”
St Andrews West said the only squirrels sighted in the area recently have been greys and has offered to monitor the wider development area for red squirrels.
Fife Council planners agreed with the developers that the bridge, and reflectors to deter squirrels from crossing the road, were no longer necessary.
The council said work may be required in future to connect squirrel habitats should the animals be found in the area.
The authority has also asked for the developers to submit an updated species protection pan should the application be approved.
St Andrews West has already agreed to install signs alerting motorists to the presence of squirrels and plant trees to provide a food source for the endangered species.
“The proposed amendment with an updated species protection plan would ensure there was no significant detrimental impact on the overall red squirrel population in accordance with the reason given for the conditions,” said the planners’ report.
“This would include the alternative mitigation.
“Additional changes to other conditions have been carried out to reflect work being carried out on site. With this the development would comply with the development plan.”
