Bats threaten delay to £19.7m Bridgwater health academy projectThe site will also include an early years centre and an independent living centreView 2 Images (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)The delivery of Bridgwater's new health and social care academy cannot move forward unless bat mitigation can be put in place on site by Halloween. But the project now faces a further delay until separate plans are approved to convert part of the former gatehouse into a "dedicated bat mitigation building" – mitigation which must be in place within two-and-a-half months. The gatehouse lies at the south-western corner of the hospital site, adjacent to the proposed access and car park for the new academy. "For this purpose the change of use of the former gatehouse is applied for, in advance of amended plans for the wider regeneration scheme." Article continues belowThe council is expected to approve both the bat mitigation and its amended plans for the wider regeneration project within the coming weeks.