Blackburn with Darwen Council to buy Darwen's Dingle Reservoir (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Blackburn with Darwen Council to buy Darwen's Dingle Reservoir

2:00pm Tuesday 15th January 2013 in Blackburn By Dan Clough, Reporter

A RESERVOIR which had an unknown future after being sold could be bought by the council.

Dingle Reservoir, in Sunnyhurst Wood, Darwen, was part of the land belonging to DS Smith, owners of Hollins Grove Paper Mill.

But after DS Smith shut up shop and sold the land to Aeternum Capital, the future of the reservoir was up in the air.

The new company wants to demolish the mill and, it was believed, planned to convert it into an energy park to provide sources of low-carbon, renewable energy.

The reservoir was originally created to service the mill, so is no longer needed by the landowner, who has offered it to the council for a nominal fee.

The purchase of the land will be discussed by Blackburn with Darwen Council’s executive board on Thursday.

Members have been recommended to acquire the land and include it in its maintenance regime for reservoirs in the borough.

Sunnyhurst councillor Peter Hollings said: “I am delighted with the news, as are the other Sunnyhurst councillors who have all worked hard to ensure the land wasn’t sold for development.

“Now the council will hopefully buy the site and keep it as a leisure facility, passing it on to a local fishing club who can look after it.

“The challenge for councillors in this area will be to make sure the path to the reservoir is kept properly maintained.”

A report to the executive board, which on Thursday meets at Darwen Town Hall in Croft Street for the first time in more than four years, says: “The land is contigious with Sunnyhurst Wood and to all intents probably regarded as an integral part of the community asset.

“Purchasing the land will secure opportunities to enhance the woods as a whole for the enjoyment of the public and avoid future problems with regard to accessibility, particularly from Falcon Avenue.”

Comments are closed on this article.