Gilmour's Bat Dilemma: Farmhouse Upgrades vs. Protected Species

0:00On April 26th, David Gilmore, the 80-year-old Pink Floyd legend, wants to fix up some crumbling barns at his 2 million-pound farmhouse in West. Sussex. The place is a 17th century-grade two-listed gym with his wife, writer Paulie Samson, and their eyeing a garden study, pottery studio, and guest bedroom setup, but protected bats just crashed the party. Surveys turned up seven roofs with species like soprano pipistrelli, brown-long-eared, and others dropping evidence everywhere. Planners note some barns are on the verge of collapse, so timing work outside hibernation makes sense, but three-roost gotta go. Bats are super protected after massive declines. Down 99% for some kinds, from pesticides and light pollution, says the bat. Conservation Trust. Folks argue the upgrades fit the rural vibe without hurting the historic spot. To move forward legally, Gilmore needs a European protective species license from natural England, plus bat boxes installed right away at three meters.

1:03Hi, facing southeast to southwest, sticking around five years minimum. Meanwhile, this isn't his first rodeo, last year. He had to demolish a shed in Hampstead after neighbor beef, and his hove seafront pads slashed from 15 million to under 9 million pounds. Horsham Council is still mulling it over, so we'll see if the bats win this round.