Decision - Wilding Waterhall - Access and LNR Declaration

To consider access arrangements at Waterhall, what restrictions should be on dogs and whether the council should seek to dedicate the site as open access land and as a Local Nature Reserve

1) That Committee agrees that the Wilding Waterhall project area ("the Wilding Waterhall Project Area") should consist of the ex-golf course land and the adjoining land being managed for wildlife under the councils Higher Level Stewardship Agreement, as shown on Appendix 1. 2) That Committee agrees that the Wilding Waterhall Project Area should be dedicated as access land and delegates authority to the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture to take all steps in relation thereto 3) That a further report be brough to this committee if in the view of the Waterhall Management Advisory Group ongoing monitoring is showing that the agreed public access is having an unacceptable impact on the site's biodiversity 4) That the Committee delegates authority to the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture to take the steps necessary to include the Wilding Waterhall Project Area within the council's dog control zone 5) That Committee agrees that the Wilding Waterhall Project Area should be declared as a Local Nature Reserve and delegates authority to the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture to take all steps in relation thereto.

The Conservative Group proposed deleting the recommendation to dedicate the Wilding Waterhall Project Area as access land. If carried, the revised recommendations would define the project area, provide for further reporting if public access harms biodiversity, extend the council’s dog control zone to the area, and declare it a Local Nature Reserve.