Eagle-eyed Emmerdale fans have spotted a plot-hole in the ITV soap that could mean sneaky businessman, Tom Waterhouse, can’t build his controversial golf course AT ALL.
In yer face, Tom.
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Fans of the show know that Debbie Dingle’s current beau is actually planning on demolishing the Dingles’ farm and their home, Wishing Well Cottage, to make space for his own personal golf course.
And the all-important access road, of course.
Understandably, the village residents are less than pleased about this (even though they don’t actually know Debs’ fella is behind the plans.)
But in Friday’s visit to Emmerdale, during a meeting about the proposed development, Sam Dingle unwittingly pointed out something that could save the farm.
Addressing the assembled villagers, Sam said: “We’ve got barn owls and bats round here.”
It seemed like a throw-away comment and went unnoticed by the other attendees, but fans were quick to rush to social media and point out that the bats could actually be the Dingles’ saviour.
“If those buildings have bats in, the legally they can’t be touched. Or is #emmerdale gonna skip something as basic as that,” tweeted one viewer.
Another added: “#Emmerdale All the Dingles need to do is find some rare bats nesting in their barn. Can’t knock it down then.”
And a third said: “@emmerdale why don’t the Dingles just put some bats in their barn, access road planning would be null n void!”
We checked in with the Bat Conservation Trust, who said: “In Britain all bat species and their roosts are legally protected, by both domestic and international legislation.
This means you will be committing a criminal offence if you:
- Deliberately capture, injure or kill a bat
- Intentionally or recklessly disturb a bat in its roost or deliberately disturb a group of bats
- Damage or destroy a bat roosting place (even if bats are not occupying the roost at the time)
- Possess or advertise/sell/exchange a bat (dead or alive) or any part of a bat
- Intentionally or recklessly obstruct access to a bat roost
Hmm…could Sam’s bats leave Tom’s plans in tatters?
Emmerdale came under fire for not researching properly earlier this week when the White family revealed plans to emigrate to Australia, despite Lachlan having a criminal record, Lawrence having a dodgy ticker, and no one having a job over there.
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Meanwhile Debbie is set to start a job next week for Tom’s company, unaware that he’s using her to double-cross her family.
Keen to please, Debs agrees to witness a deal, but does she make a grave mistake by signing something she shouldn’t have?