An environmental campaigner has asked Bristol City Council to consider moving or replacing a huge metal grill that was installed to stop flooding in South Bristol, but could be inadvertently wiping out the area’s fledgling population of otters.
The giant grill system completely covers the Pigeonhouse Stream as it enters a tunnel under Hartcliffe Way, the main road that connects Bedminster and Hartcliffe. It was installed to stop the tunnel getting clogged up with abandoned supermarket trolleys and other detritus that was stopping the flow of the river so much that it was backing up and flooding roads and homes at the top of Crox Bottom in Hartcliffe.
But since then, otters have been found living in the wildlife haven created by the Pigeonhouse Stream at the Crox Bottom nature reserve - only for at least two to be killed crossing the road above.
