‘Batman’ mansion owner hits back at Buckinghamshire Council in bat row

The owner of a vacant Grade I listed mansion that appeared in the film Batman Begins has hit back at a council in a row over completing bat surveys.

Mentmore Towers, in rural Buckinghamshire, was served a listed-building repairs notice in August, urging the owners to carry out a survey of the flying mammals and repair masonry.

However, a spokesman for the country house, owned by property tycoon Simon Halabi, said its “own Batman team has already been on the case” with surveys and ecological investigations.

Peter Strachan, deputy leader of Buckinghamshire Council, said the authority’s priority was protecting and preserving the “well-loved” building.

“We are also aware of works on-site that have been carried out without planning permission which we’ve looked into and are taking appropriate enforcement action on,” the Conservative councillor added.

Campaign group Save Britain’s Heritage said the local authority ordered Halabi to carry out urgent repairs to its deteriorating roof in the notice.

Mentmore Towers doubled as Wayne Manor in the 2005 superhero film directed by Sir Christopher Nolan, and was once home to the Rothschild family.