A COUNCILLOR is hopeful that the former Jack’s Key Reservoir will be transformed into an attractive ecology site.

Proposals have been approved to create a new river channel, wetland area and scenic walkway at the site.

Water was drained from the reservoir a long time ago, but now several distinct changes will be made to attract wildlife and make it much more appealing.

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A new river channel will be created to reconnect the River Darwen and this will include a series of cascades created by large boulders.

Additionally, a raised bank will run across the reservoir basin in order to create a new pond and wetland area.

A new scenic walkway will be also be provided along with a pedestrian bridge across the new river channel.

Whitehall councillor Dave Foster said that these developments would create an excellent opportunity to gradually transform the old reservoir into an ecology site with lots of different wildlife.

He said: “I could not see that there was any alternative but to decommission the site from a safety point of view, but now what I’d really like to do is get local people together with the environment officer and see how we can improve the whole site.

“I think it has potential to provide a lot of interest to local schools because I hope that the site will have lots of different habitats for a variety of wildlife. I hope there will be a gradual transition to turn it into a kind of ecology site.

“I’d like to get up some explanatory boards for people to read about the different types of wildlife and environments.

“Hopefully, we can have a meeting in a month or two where we can discuss some ideas and work out the way forward, but I think we can do some really great things with it.”

The function of the two existing dams will be removed and it is expected that about 100 trees within the woodland will also be removed.

Complementary works will be carried out at Clough Street to enhance the flood protection to those properties.