A construction firm fined for destroying bat roosts in Caernarfon has defended its actions, despite going ahead without planning permission.

FI Real Estate Management (FIREM) must pay £40,000 after it pleaded guilty to demolishing a wild animal shelter at the Peblig Industrial Estate in September 2024.

North Wales Police said the Lancashire-based firm had been warned by Cyngor Gwynedd planners that going ahead with the work without a licence was unauthorised.

But the company says it "decided to act on health and safety grounds to prevent potential harm and danger to human life".

In a statement, FIREM said the buildings contained asbestos and had been the target of repeated trespassing incidents involving children, posing "a significant risk to human life".

They insisted there was no evidence to suggest that bats were in the building at the time of the demolition work, which took place outside the bat hiberaton season, and no bats were harmed during the process.

A bat mitigation house was erected on site before the demoltiion work began and it remains in use by bats.

A FIREM spokesperson added: "Between January 1, 2024, and September 5, 2024, there were at least eight incidents of trespass or suspicious activity on the site."

"On September 5 alone, there were three separate incidents, while on May 20 there were reports of eight youths running towards the derelict buildings, with one seen throwing stones."

"On each occasion, we reported the incidents to the police, who unfortunately were not always able to attend. Once it became clear that children were accessing a dangerous structure, we had to step in."

"We take our environmental responsibilities seriously and regret that this unfortunately led to a breach of the law, but safety must come first."

North Wales Police said it began investigating the unauthorised demolition work at the end of 2024 after being alerted by the planning department at Cyngor Gwynedd.

A NWP spokesperson said: "Two years earlier, the council had received a planning application from FI Real Estate Management LTD to redevelop the site."

"The plans included the demolition of existing disused industrial and commercial units and the subsequent development of new units."

"A structural survey identified several buildings on site were unsafe and needed demolishing at the earliest opportunity – particularly as a result of youths visiting the derelict site."

"However, as part of the planning process, a bat survey carried out in early 2023 found three different species of bats were roosting in some of the buildings on the site."

"As a result, demolition work required a European Protected Species (EPS) Licence from Natural Resources Wales (NRW). It meant a suitable bat house to safeguard the protected species would need to be created on the site."

"In June 2023, a senior biodiversity officer rejected the proposed shelter, deeming it unsuitable, and advised adjustments were needed before the demolition could go ahead."

"Despite this, in September 2024, the firm went ahead and demolished all buildings without permission – subsequently destroying the bat roosts."

When asked why FIREM proceeded with the demolition work without seeking planning permission first - and when it had been warned against going ahead by the council - a spokesperson for the company referred to its statement.

FIREM was given three months to pay the fine after it admitted breaching the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Following sentencing, Rural Crime Team Sergeant Peter Evans of North Wales Police said: “The demolition caused irreversible harm to a protected species."

“Developers and property owners have a clear legal obligation to carry out the necessary surveys and secure the correct licences before starting work and adhere to them."

“The conviction sends a clear message that wildlife crime is not a victimless offence, nor is it an acceptable cost of doing business.”