THE GP partners at the new Tavyside Health Centre in Tavistock are delighted with their new building at Abbey Rise — but they never thought they would be caring for bats as well as people.

The bats were spotted flying in and out of the old Stannary surgery building at dusk one morning by builders as the finishing touches were put to the new health centre. Local wildlife experts were called in and confirmed the presence of bats and what species they were.

Identified as the Soprano Pipistrelle, these bats have taken up their summer roosting in the roof of the old Stannary building.  

It is quite common for pipistrelle bats to take up a summer roost in crevices or roofs of older buildings and can support colonies of around 200, but in some cases in even greater number.  Along with the Common Pipistrelle, the Soprano Pipistrelle is one of Britain's most common bat species.

Despite being prevalent across the UK, all bats are a protected species and their roosts are legally protected, by both domestic and international legislation. 

To capture, move or recklessly disturb a bat in its roost, or damage its roosting place is a criminal offence, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, incurring substantial fines and in some cases a prison sentence.

Staff at Tavyside, which opened its doors two weeks ago, have applied to Natural England for a license to re-locate the bats to the trees at the rear of the building. 

Dr Graham Johnson said: 'We were very surprised to discover the bats and quite excited to have our own colony living on site.

'However, we do realise that this will cause significant time issues with the removal of the old building and the subsequent finish of our much needed car parking facilities, but unfortunately one can never take account of nature and so we will just have to wait and see what Natural England proposes and hope that we can perhaps keep the bats on site in the trees behind.'

He said all the patients and staff had been very supportive during the building phase and the disruption it had caused.

'We do hope they will understand and bear with us for a little longer whilst the bats are re-located,' he said.

The official opening of the Tavyside Health Centre is on July 6 and there will be an opportunity later that month for residents of Tavistock and surrounding areas to have a guided tour of the facilities.