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24/02/04 - Derwent Forest a Step Nearer

Another step in the plan to create a forest park from an old military depot in West Cumbria was approved today by Cumbria County Council's Cabinet. It agreed that the county council should undertake, subject to funding from the North West Development Agency, a scheme to reclaim the site at Broughton Moor and provide infrastructure such as roads.

The council has also selected a contractor to reclaim the former NATO ammunition dump, which is to become Derwent Forest. The contractor, Birse Civils Ltd, has been brought in at an early stage so that its experience can be drawn on as the scheme is being designed.

County Councillor Lawson Short, Cabinet member with responsibility for environmental issues and economic regeneration, said: 

“Cumbria County Council is pleased to have been asked by Allerdale Borough Council and West Lakes Renaissance to carry out reclamation work for Derwent Forest, which is a major reclamation scheme for the north west region. The county council is following best practice by involving the contractor in the design process at a very early stage. This means that as many problems as possible are foreseen and avoided and also that opportunities are taken for efficient planning and adopting novel approaches to problem-solving. Combined with the preliminary site investigations for which Cabinet approved the funding last summer, this means we are off to a good start.

"The county council is also progressing other projects in west, south and north Cumbria, under the land reclamation scheme funded by the NWDA. As at Broughton Moor, reclaiming these derelict areas will improve the quality of life for local people and in many cases help the local economy as well."

The Derwent Forest scheme involves reclaiming 425 hectares and so that a forest park can be created with 30 kilometres of paths and cycleways, a visitor centre and a wind farm. The total cost of the scheme, on the biggest derelict site in the north west, is expected to be about £25 million when completed. Allerdale Borough Council is expected to buy the site from the Ministry of Defence and its development as Derwent Forest is to be undertaken by West Lakes Renaissance.

The county council's Cabinet also approved projects in the following areas:

  • Tebay - A small derelict site will be reclaimed and turned into a public open space and nature reserve at a cost of £40,057
  • Workington - A comprehensive site investigation, costing £250,000, will help in design work and deciding on land allocation in the River Derwent corridor from the sea to The Cloffocks
  • Maryport/Workington - A £40,000 feasibility study for the West Allerdale Cycleway to determine the best way of developing further the network in the area
  • Walney - Restoring a former military camp at Mill Lane and adjoining land to a public recreation area at a cost of £299,950.
  • Carlisle - £138,863 investigation of a former landfill site at St Ninian's Road to prepare for removal of hazardous contamination
  • Maryport - Site investigation of former coal handling depot to create a nature reserve at a cost of £100,000.  

These schemes, totalling £900,000, represent the third tranche of money spent this year on the land reclamation programme being carried out by the county council.