Councillor Following the Nature Trail

12.15.11am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 14th Jul 2005

Local Lib Dem Councillor for Rothwell Steve Smith has hailed proposals that could lead to two former opencast coal sites in the Lower Aire Valley being transformed into a massive nature reserve.

Council chiefs are currently considering plans for an informal country park being created on the former opencast coal sites at St Aidan's and Skelton Lake. At last Wednesdays (6th July 2005) Council Executive Board Meeting the initial proposals for the nature reserve were outlined, including details of an approach made by the RSPB to manage and maintain the site once its up and running.

Cllr Steve Smith (Lib Dem, Rothwell), "Providing access to green spaces such as the proposed nature reserve is key to creating healthy communities here in South Leeds. The location of the reserve would mean there will be massive benefits for the people of Rothwell and the surrounding areas. To reclaim land that was once a such a huge part of the local community for an admirable scheme like the nature reserve is very fitting."

The land has already been restored from the opencast mines and currently contains reedbeds, lakes and wetland habitats. The proposed nature reserve would stretch along the lower Aire Valley from Skelton Lake in the west to Fairburn Ings in the east and with St Aidan's at its heart - a total of around 750 hectares.

In the long-term it is envisaged the nature reserve would become a country park of national significance and provide a recreation resource for the surrounding local communities and the wider Leeds population. Members of the local community, ward councillors, parish councils and local schools would all be consulted during the development of any proposals for the country park.

The St. Aidan's site is due to be transferred from UK Coal Mining Ltd to Leeds City Council in 2008 and Skelton Lake is expected to be transferred from the Coal Authority in 2006. Planning permission on the St. Aidan's site limits use of the land to the creation, maintenance and promotion of ecological, recreational and educational facilities. A £2 million trust fund has been

established as part of the planning regulations to support the site's future - Leeds City Council will be the sole trustee of this fund.

Executive councillors are being asked to give the go-ahead for the RSPB to develop proposals for the long-term enhancement and maintenance of the land, and support this with a grant of £60,000 per annum for two years.