A £20,000 bat house built by a golf club to comply with planning regulations has failed to entice one bat under its rafters.
Wernddu golf club in Abergavenny wanted to convert old farm buildings into accommodation for visiting golfers.
However as they had bat populations, the club needed to provide an new home for them, and called in a wildlife expert to design a new building.
Not one bat has used the house since it was built six months ago.
Both long-eared and pipistrelle bats lived in the old buildings.
Club owner James Watkins said: "Planning permission was only granted subject to us building a bat house.
"So we built the breeze block and wood building with special gaps under the roof so bats can fly in and hang from the rafters. "We had eight weeks to do the work while the bats were hibernating elsewhere.
"But that was back in January and February - since then no bats."
Mr Watkins lives in a farmhouse next to the golf club, and says he has hundred of bats living in the rafters and roof space.
"Our farmhouse has lots of nooks and crannies in the roof area so it is the perfect haven for bats.
"We have been sharing the farmhouse with them for as long as I can remember," he said.
"But they don't want to know the new building even though it was designed by bat experts.
They prefer something old to a modern des-res."
The club spent £500,000 on its new accommodation block.
A spokesman for Monmouthshire council said: "We are very keen to ensure we keep Monmouthshire a beautiful habitat for all who live in it.
"Since bats are a protected species we will always do our best to ensure that developments cater for them in the best way possible.
"In this case the bats have been a bit reluctant to come forward and make the most of the facilities but we hope they see the benefits of this specially built bat-house and move in soon."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/8150839.stm
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