'Upset' over hedgehogs killed on Yorkshire village roads prompts warning calls

Coun Christian Vassie, Wheldrake’s Liberal Democrat ward councillor, said York Council had come up with one excuse after another as to why they would not install the signs.

But council city development lead Garry Taylor said doing so would divert funds away from schemes proven to slow traffic down and save animals’ lives.

It comes as Coun Vassie said Wheldrake residents approached him around 10 months ago asking if the council would be able to install the signs on approaches to the village.

The councillor said it came as national studies showed the amount of hedgehogs had declined by between 30 and 75 per cent across the UK in the last two decades.

They are listed as vulnerable to extinction on the The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of British Mammals.

Coun Vassie said it also came after the Government changed rules in 2023 so councils can install small animal warning signs on roads without needing Department for Transport approval.

The Wheldrake ward councillor said: “Residents have been upset at the number of hedgehogs killed on the roads around the village.

“We have sent the council numerous photos of squashed hedgehogs.

“We have dealt with each bureaucratic hoop the council throws at us but as soon as we deal with one they find another excuse.

“Sadly, it’s clear they are not interested in helping residents in my ward protect wildlife.

“It isn’t about the money because we have already identified the funding and, to be honest, I would happily pay £300 for four signs if the council blocked us from using ward funding.”

But council Director of City Development Mr Taylor said researched showed warning signs had little impact on driver behaviour unless they are linked to known animal crossing locations.

The director said: “While we recognise the importance of protecting local wildlife and appreciate residents’ concern for hedgehogs, we also have to manage a limited budget to best effect.

“Animal warning signs are effective in locations where deer are known to regularly cross the road, for example.

“If we were to divert our limited resources into a hedgehog warning sign programme then we would have to reduce our resource in other programmes such as requests for Resident Parking (ResPark) schemes and road safety projects – the latter of which are proven to slow drivers down and have the added benefit of protecting both people and hedgehogs.

“There are many locations across York where hedgehogs are active so we would anticipate requests for signage from many areas.

“For these reasons, we will not be progressing the request for additional hedgehog signs at this time.”