A damaged footway in Victoria Avenue, Hastings has been fully restored after essential repair work was completed.
The footway had become unsafe due to voids created by badger activity beneath the surface. As badgers and their setts are legally protected, any action taken to repair the damage had to be fully licensed and carefully controlled to safeguard the animals’ welfare before any excavation could begin.
To achieve this, licensed ecologists installed specialist one‑way gates at selected sett entrances. These gates allowed the badgers to leave naturally but prevented them from returning to the specific areas where repairs were needed. With other suitable setts already present in the wider area, the animals were able to relocate safely. The exclusion period took place within the legally defined ecological window and was monitored over several weeks to confirm the site was fully clear of all badgers.
Once it was safe to proceed, crews excavated the affected ground and reconstructed the footway, restoring it to a safe and durable condition for pedestrians.
It's a careful balance of public safety and environmental responsibility, ensuring both the protection of wildlife and the long‑term safety of residents and visitors.