It's Haven Sent By Tony Harney

A Vandalised inner-city reservoir has been transformed into a haven for wildlife and visitors.

Farnley in Leeds is celebrating the restoration of the local balancing reservoir, which over recent years attracted the unwanted attention of vandals and had become heavily silted.

Leeds West MP John Battle officially opened the community scheme, which has made the site both safer and more attractive for visitors.

He was joined at the ceremony yesterday by Yorkshire Water chairman John Napier, who took a keen personal interest in the work after touring the site with Mr Battle last year.

The work carried out included: minor repairs to the dam, repairs to the concrete walkway, repairing damaged handrailing around the site, enhancing the middle island to improve bird nesting facilities, and providing a steel decking viewing platform adjacent to the existing inlet channel.

Mr Napier said: "Local people have great affection for this reservoir site. We were pleased to support the campaign led by Mr Battle and the Friends of Farnley to restore this inner-city reservoir.

Support

"Its amenity value is greatly enhanced, and the local community has given a commitment to help support the improvements."

Gerry Thrussell, chairman of the Friends of Farnley, cut the ribbon, and pupils from Lawns Park school attending the event were among the first to take advantage of the upgraded facility. Pupil Rachel Williams won a prize for her class after designing an anti-litter poster.

© tony.harney@ypn.co.uk 25 May 2002

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