Seagulls have cost a health board in Wales tens of thousands of pounds after they were found nesting in an empty building, delaying its demolition. The Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport was facing a bill of £100,000 due to the presence of the protected birds. Under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act, disturbing nesting seagulls is illegal without a proper license, with potential consequences including prison time.
The discovery of seagulls nesting in former accommodation blocks earmarked for demolition led to significant delays in the hospital’s plans to make way for a new car park. The gulls are known to return to their nesting sites annually, with breeding pairs courting in March, building nests in April, and laying eggs from April to May. The chicks usually hatch by early June.
In a related incident, a nesting seagull caused a £460,000 overspend for the demolition of the Newport Centre, another building near the hospital. In addition to the avian-related costs, the presence of a higher amount of asbestos than anticipated in the buildings added to the financial burden, bringing the total forecasted expenses for the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board to £110,000.
The board, responsible for managing NHS services in the area, reported the overspend as part of their capital budget, funded through an All-Wales programme. Despite the challenges faced by various projects under the programme, the board managed to allocate funds appropriately to offset the overspends and remain within budget overall.
A spokesperson for the Aneurin Bevan board confirmed the delayed demolition of the building due to the nesting seagulls, which eventually took place in October the previous year. The demolition work proceeded after consultation with Natural Resources Wales to ensure it was conducted outside the nesting season to avoid harm to the birds.
The Aneurin Bevan board highlighted a £1.7 million overspend on the Bevan Health and Wellbeing Centre, primarily attributed to disputes with contractors and asbestos-related issues. However, the board managed to accommodate these costs within their discretionary capital funding underspend. Other projects, such as the Hills Health and Well-being Centre in Newport, also experienced overspends due to unforeseen expenses like additional asbestos removal and utility costs.
Despite the financial challenges, some projects like the satellite radiotherapy centre in Abergavenny are expected to come in under budget, thanks in part to VAT recovery. The Grange Hospital’s emergency unit expansion is on track, with the board exploring options to keep the project within budget and on schedule for completion.
Overall, the Aneurin Bevan board is managing its capital projects to break even for the year, with up to £64 million available for such initiatives. By carefully monitoring expenditures and addressing unforeseen obstacles, the board aims to deliver essential healthcare infrastructure while staying financially responsible.