Council cleared over baths threat

An investigation has cleared Dudley Council of blame over claims it started demolition work at Coseley baths before permission to reduce the building to rubble had been granted.

Campaigners fighting to save the building from the bulldozer had asked Natural England to launch an inquiry amid concerns decommissioning works would dist- urb a bat colony in the roof.

However wildlife advisers decided to take no action against the council after concluding the works would have had a "negligible impact" on the roost.

Save Coseley Baths campaign leader Brian Guest reported the council after residents noticed workers dismantling boilers and removing a plaque commemorating the opening of the pool, in Pear Tree Lane.

However Natural Eng-land dismissed Mr Guest's concerns. In a letter to the 66-year-old, of Elmwood Rise, Sedgley, protected species specialist John Gordon wrote: "The activities which have taken place were part of the decommissioning works to secure the retrieval of valuable items and to ensure safety and security on site.

"These works would not have directly affected the roofing areas where the bat roost is located."

The letter concludes Dudley Council has not committed any offences under animal conservation laws.

Mr Guest said he was disappointed with the verdict.

The Save Coseley Baths group is considering taking legal action against the council.