A tunnel for otters to stop them being killed by traffic as they try to cross the main road connecting Bedminster and Hartcliffe could be installed if Bristol City Council can secure the money. Environmental campaigner Vassili Papastavrou has repeated calls for action that he first made to then-mayor Marvin Rees in July 2023 to move or replace a huge metal grille installed to stop flooding in South Bristol.
The grille system completely covers the Pigeonhouse Stream, a tributary of the Rivers Malago and Avon, as it enters a tunnel under Hartcliffe Way to stop wood and other debris clogging it up and creating floodwater on residential roads at the top of Crox Bottom in Hartcliffe. But since then, environmentalists made the exciting and surprising discovery of otters living at the wildlife haven at the Crox Bottom nature reserve, only for at least two to be killed crossing the road above.
The grille is too narrow to allow the protected animals to enter the culvert across the stream that flows under the busy road, so they risk their lives by attempting to cross it. In a written question to the environment and sustainability committee on Thursday, February 27, Mr Papastavrou said this placed otters under threat of being killed by vehicles.
He said nothing appeared to have been done since he raised the issue at a full council meeting more than 18 months ago. Mr Papastavrou asked: “Can this committee consider whether a city-wide Bristol recovery plan for otters needs to be developed to address the threats that otters face in the city?”
A Bristol City Council officer replied: “In response to the original enquiry, an investigation of the culvert network running beneath Hartcliffe Way was undertaken. The culverts are part of the flood control system in this area.
“Whilst the grille into the culvert is too narrow to allow otters to access (hence the risk that they attempt to cross the road), a more significant issue is that access / egress is closed off at one end by retaining walls with a narrow ‘letterbox’ opening, which likely is impassable for otters. As such, if otters could get into the culvert system, they are at risk of being trapped.”
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They said two options were apparent but would be expensive and were currently un-funded – either significant modifications to the culverts to allow safe passage by otters or installing a separate mammal tunnel beneath Hartcliffe Way. The officer said: “Funding options exist through the West of England Nature Partnership (WENP) ‘transport severance’ priority programmes, where this issue at Hartcliffe Way could be part of this wider programme to address barriers to wildlife, including otters, incorporating an otter recovery plan for the city.”
WENP is the region’s designated local nature partnership, a coalition of quangos, local authorities and many other organisations working to support nature’s recovery. It covers Bristol city, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath & North East Somerset council areas.
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