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The discovery of a protected species means the long-awaited Earl Shilton bypass may not be finished until February 2009 and could cost another £1.7 million pounds.
 A colony of newts has forced a delay of up to three months in a major road-building project - and could add £1.7 million to the bill.
Leicestershire County Council has to ensure the habitat of the great-crested newts is not harmed during the construction. The creatures are not directly on the line of the new by-pass but were found on a site adjacent to the bypass. The scheme has been set back because their habitat will now have to be fenced off to prevent it from being disturbed by builders. Interestingly a routine wildlife survey was carried out before planning permission was given for the bypass in 2006, but no newts were found. Some locals have suggested that the newts may have been introduced in the last 18 months to deliberatly cause a delay, although there is nothing to suggest this is the case. |
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