Badgers cause 18 months of traffic chaos after council was forced to bring in temporary lights

Badgers have caused 18 months of traffic chaos after a council was forced to bring in temporary lights when the animals dug a sett next to a country road.

Drivers were left confused at having to wait several minutes on a 200ft stretch of Swallow Hill in Thurlby, Lincolnshire, despite no roadworks being in sight.

But Lincolnshire County Council has now revealed the lights were set up after badgers burrowed a sett beneath the carriageway, leaving one side ‘unsafe’ for traffic to pass over.

The Badger Protection Act 1992 forbids interference with badgers or their setts until a licence is granted by the government body Natural England, with offenders risking a fine of up to £5,000 for each badger or sett affected. 

However, the licence can only be provided between July 1 and November 31 because badgers use setts for breeding and raising young in the winter and spring.

Drivers were left confused by the traffic signals (pictured above) placed on a 200ft stretch of Swallow Hill in Thurlby, Lincolnshire, despite no roadworks in sight

Lincolnshire County Council revealed the lights were set up after badgers burrowed a sett beneath the carriageway, leaving one side ‘unsafe’ for traffic to pass over (file photo)

That window was extended by a month because of the pandemic, but ongoing Covid-19 restrictions in December meant it was missed. 

The local council said the work is instead being carried out this year from August. 

Lorry driver Carl Porter, 55, who regularly uses the road, added: ‘It can be a real nightmare along there now.

‘To know it’s all because of some badgers is pretty frustrating to say the least. It’s been going on for so long, they really need to get it sorted.

‘I get badgers are protected and all that, but for them to cause this much disruption is just baffling.’

And one local became so infuriated that they erected their own sign demanding to know the reasoning behind the traffic lights, reports the Rutland and Stamford Mercury.

One local became so infuriated by the mysterious traffic lights (above) that they erected their own sign demanding to know the reasoning behind them

Thurlby Parish Council clerk Bernard Champness said: ‘The wait seems like an eternity. 

‘They call them temporary traffic lights but they’ve been there so long they’re semi-permanent.

‘I was waiting so long I had time to park my car, step out and take several photos.

‘I must’ve been waiting for five minutes when absolutely no one else was about and no work was going on.’

South Kesteven District Councillor Robert Reid, who undertook the case, said: ‘There has been a lot of disquiet, and quite rightly so.

‘There is the cost of the traffic lights and the inconvenience.

‘They will have been in place for getting on 18 months, but Lincolnshire Highways have assured me the consent is in place and remedial work should begin by the end of July.’

Transport bosses are hoping to relocate the badgers from their setts so they can repair the damaged lane.

Karen Cassar, assistant director for highways at Lincolnshire County Council, said: ‘One side of the road here has become unstable due to badgers burrowing a sett beneath the carriageway. 

‘This has made that side unsafe to have traffic pass over, so we have had to put in temporary lights to allow vehicles to pass single file.

‘We are arranging with Natural England to move the badgers on safely; this work is only allowed to be carried out at certain times of the year. 

‘Once they have been relocated we will repair the damage underneath the road and reopen it.

‘Thanks to residents for bearing with us whilst temporary lights have been in place.’