A village in Lincolnshire has been thrown into chaos and cut off by a major road closure, with repairs delayed for half a year due to an unexpected obstacle: a group of mating badgers.
Road Collapse and a Massive Detour
College Road in East Halton was first closed in October after it was deemed unsafe for motorists. The 2.5-mile route had sunk by 2cm and faced a serious risk of collapse, damage directly caused by tunnelling badgers. This road is the quickest link for residents to access northern and western towns, meaning locals now face a colossal 36-mile detour.
Repairs were originally scheduled to begin on 13 October but have now been halted. The carriageway is set to stay closed until work can restart on 1 July next year, a full six-month delay dictated by the badgers' breeding season.
Council Fury and Failed Solutions
The leader of North Lincolnshire Council, Councillor Rob Waltham, branded the situation as "frankly outrageous". He called on Natural England (NE) to take "urgent, pragmatic action" to fast-track the work, arguing the balance between wildlife protection and community needs has been lost.
"An entire village is left to live with danger, disruption and the slow erosion of its local services," Cllr Waltham said. He highlighted impacts on farmers, daily disruption for residents, and even a threat to the vital village post office due to lost passing trade.
The council attempted to resolve the issue by building an alternative sett to relocate the animals. However, the badgers did not take the bait and returned to their original home near the damaged road. One local wryly noted on social media: "Looks like 1-0 to the Badgers."
Community Backlash and Legal Protections
Frustrated residents have voiced their anger online. One commented: "Didn't know badgers have more right than humans shame." Another pointed to longer-term issues: "This road has been collapsing for many years, but rather than addressing it earlier... it's been left."
Badgers have had full legal protection since 1992, and their population has roughly doubled since. A spokesperson for Natural England stated they issued a licence to the council on 13 October to carry out work ahead of the breeding season. They added that in exceptional circumstances, licence extensions can be granted and that next steps will be discussed with the council in the new year.
Following his criticism, Cllr Waltham has since spoken with Natural England, describing a "very positive and open conversation" and looking forward to working with them after Christmas to find a solution for East Halton.
