14 DAY TRIAL // Few would ever give newts much credit, let alone imagine that these creatures might be able to put constructions projects on hold and cause noteworthy economic losses. However, it turns out that, every once in a while, all it takes is a few dozen newts to turn people's lives and their finances topsy-turvy.
Daily Mail informs that, just recently, a building firm by the name Gallagher Estates was forced to spend an impressive £1 million (approximately €1.02 million / $1.66 million) on finding new homes for a total of 150 newts.
The aquatic amphibians in question belonged to an endangered species, i.e. they were great crested newts, and the region that they inhabited was bound to be affected by work on a 900-acre (roughly 364 hectares) site in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England.
The same source tells us that, under current legislation concerning environmental protection, developers must bend over backwards trying to protect endangered species while going on with their working agenda. If they don't, they risk prosecution, hefty fines, maybe even jail time.
Hence, Gallagher Estates pretty much had its arm twist into spending said sum of money on relocating the newts whose wellbeing was threatened by the Milton Keynes constructions project. What's more, word has it that the amphibians did not even bother to say “thank you.”
Despite the fact that the developer only managed to find and relocate 150 newts, it took nearly one year for work on this small-scale green-oriented initiative to be completed, and for Gallagher Estate to be able to resume work on the 900-acre site it had its eyes on.
Information shared with the public says that, as part of this constructions project, the company is set to build a total of 6,500 homes, 4 schools, and a village center. Many people in the region support this initiative and cannot quite wrap their heads around the idea that a few dozen newts proved more than enough to put work at this site on hold for an entire year.
“This is a ridiculous amount of money to be spent on newts! With NHS schools under pressure to perform with less money, you go spending on this – it beggars belief,” local resident Holly said in a statement.
“As a result of this enormous effort, only 150 newts were found. The expense, delay and priority given to this rather privileged minority is difficult to justify. What a waste of time and money when so many people are in need,” added Philip Blowfield, a Ukip local election candidate.