New Roma stadium project faces legal challenges over bats

Roma are facing a new obstacle in the construction of their new stadium, as after winning one appeal, now there are legal challenges protecting bats.

The plan to create a new arena in the Eternal City has been going for close to two decades now, having gone through several different potential locations.

The one that has achieved the most progress is the current area of Pietralata, but that doesn’t mean it is without difficulties.

The Serie A side won a recent legal action to remove a scrapyard that had been illegally occupying the area for over 20 years.

Roma face new legal challenges

Now they are up in court again and expecting a verdict from the TAR tribunal tomorrow on whether they can remove 26 trees in order to conduct the necessary archaeological digs in the area.

There are some local committees who are suing to prevent this, arguing that the trees are the natural habitat for a particular species of bat.

Their lawyers are threatening to sue Roma and the local council for damages if they go ahead with the removal of the trees.

Part of the project for the new stadium would involve the planting of 819 new trees, as part of an ecologically sustainable stadium surrounded by parkland.