167 River Len Local Nature Reserve PDF 239 KB
Minutes:
The Head of Environment and
Public Realm introduced the report and explained that although the
River Len Nature Reserve was on borough-owned land, the site was
managed by a management committee comprised of volunteers. The
management plan was due for renewal, and the Parks Team would work
alongside the management committee to draft this. During the
pandemic, there had been incidences of antisocial behaviour which
involved groups of people consuming alcohol and drugs on the site
and had resulted in increased littering. The Community Protection
Team and the Police had been involved, and reports of sewage leaks
had been reported to the Environment Agency who had asked Southern
Water Services Ltd to take action in
response.
In response to questions, the
Head of Environment and Public Realm confirmed that the current
management plan could be circulated to the Committee. The Parks
Team hold the budget for maintenance and repairs of the Nature
Reserve, and the management committee can escalate issues for the
Park Team to assess whether work is needed. The new management plan
would be a collaborative document which would involve officers, the
Environment Agency and Southern Water Services Ltd as well as the
management committee. The Parks Team could be asked to work with
Downswood Parish Council to extend the
scope of the plan outside of the borough-owned land.
RESOLVED: That the work being undertaken in the River Len Local Nature
Reserve be noted.