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Denby Dale councillors Graham Turner and Will Simpson have been leading work with Kirklees environment officers and the Parish Countryside Officer to develop plans for significant landscape and biodiversity improvements at the old screens site, off Park Gate in Skelmanthorpe.
The reclaimed mining land is now intended to become a nature area for residents and wildlife to enjoy.
Alongside the publication of an initial Masterplan, Kirklees Council have launched a public engagement on the first stage of the plans with a short survey, asking for residents to feed in their ideas and priorities for the site.
Cllr Turner commented:
‘We have an incredibly exciting and unique opportunity to do something very special here, which would have significant environmental benefits and provide an amazing space for our community to enjoy.
‘This is not only an opportunity to lead on the climate emergency within Kirklees, we have the opportunity to do something of regional and national significance – and Cllr Simpson and I will be working hard with officers to ensure that we do.’
Cllr Simpson said:
Working together on this site we have the ability to plant thousands of new trees; to create new habitats for wildlife; to improve biodiversity; to look into natural flood mitigation measures; to improve it as a site for walking and for families to enjoy; and to pay tribute to our mining heritage.
The potential to create a fantastic space for our residents and wildlife is incredible. This is a very exciting project which we are pleased to be leading on.
Residents can give their feedback by completing this short survey by 4th January, here.
In a statement Kirklees Council has announced a survey :
The site already has some very biodiverse wet woodland along the Dyke, as well as plantation woodlands, different types of grassland and scrub habitat which have developed since the colliery operations ceased and the site was re-profiled in the late 1980s.
The site recently came back into Kirklees Council ownership and this is a really exciting opportunity to make it into something really special both for wildlife, through habitat enhancement and creation, and for a range of local community uses.
The project will be phased as it is likely that there will be a need to fundraising for some of the proposals once they are finalised. There is some funding already in place for some tree planting which is planned to start in January 2021.
A draft master plan for the site has been drawn up, following a full site analysis.. An image board has also been prepared of some ideas for the kinds of things that we could include at the site which can be viewed here.
Please give your feedback by completing this short survey by 4th January so that we can ensure the project meets local needs as much as possible, and incorporates residents’ ideas and suggestions for the site.