News 
RSS feed
RSS feedShow latest headline
Recently you may have seen in the news details of the 25th anniversary of the 1984 miners strike. The Battle of Orgreave, at Orgreave coking works Rotherham saw some of the worst industrial riots and clashes between police and striking miners. Twenty five years on the coking works have gone, but the site, renamed Waverley, is the venue for the BLRS Spring visit and AGM.
Our hosts will be the site owners UKCOAL and site planners Atisreal UK. The venue will be the new Technology Centre at the Advanced Manufacturing Park, Brunel Way, Rotherham, itself built within the first phase of redeveloped brownfield land at the former Orgreave site.
The day will begin with the BLRS Annual General Meeting . This is a chance for members to say how the society is run and opportunities to get more involved.
After the AGM, Atisreal UK project manager John Dunshea will describe the legacy, present challenges and future scope of the Waverley site. We will hear how the whole 741 acre site is seen as a national example of creating a small town of highly sustainable, environmentally sound housing, alongside a mix of commercial development anticipated to generate 10,000 jobs. The most recent phase includes an outline planning application submitted to Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council for approximately 4,000 houses, community facilities and green areas, together with a series of public consultation meetings in the area. There are also public access proposals to deliver 25 kilometres of new and restored footpaths, cycle routes and bridleways, linking local communities and helping to deliver government targets on sustainable transport and public health.
The second presentation will be from Sue Anderson, Director Designate of Harworth Estates (UKCOAL's property arm) who will describe the structure and operation of The Waverley Management Company. She will then throw the meeting open for a question and answer forum. She anticipates lots of questions!
After a buffet lunch there will be an opportunity to have a guided tour of the Waverley site in land rovers. The tour will include a visit to the highest point "The Hill" where we will have a useful overview of the whole 741 acre site. The tour will also visit the lakes, which are part of a surface water management scheme and a wildlife area.
The BLRS look forward to seeing you on the 29th April at Waverley. Please email for more information, info@blrs.org, or download the programme or Registration Form .
Lancashire Wildlife Trust has secured £8million of Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) investment to build new visitor facilities at their Brockholes Wetland and Woodland Nature Reserve near J31 of the M6 at Preston.
Following last month’s planning approval for the new visitor centre and facilities, the way is now clear to allow construction work to begin.
The reserve will be the gateway to Preston and to the tourist attractions of the area. Although long known as one of the premier sites in the Northwest for migrating birds, it has no visitor facilities and is in need of work to make it safe and welcoming for visitors.
The investment has been made under ‘Newlands’, a NWDA and Forestry Commission programme that is regenerating brownfield land across the Northwest into economically viable community woodland. Launched in 2003, Newlands is investing a total of £59million into the region.
Ian Selby, Brockholes Project Manager, said ”We are absolutely delighted that the NWDA has recognized the importance of this project for the people and wildlife of Lancashire and beyond. This iconic development will demonstrate that wildlife can co-exist with people inside such a visitor attraction. We will have educational facilities alongside the usual visitor comforts and are hoping that we will attract day trippers, school parties, stop-offs and dedicated wildlife enthusiasts. We are creating jobs and adding to the appeal of the area for visitors. The centre will eventually be self-funding and will guarantee the future of the reserve for future generations.”
Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive at the NWDA said:
“The Brockholes development will not only provide an important and distinctive visitor attraction for the region, but will also influence future investment for the area with economic and social impacts felt at both a local and regional level. “The NWDA recognises that Brockholes is a key site for the region and is pleased to support the development. With an increase in visitor and tourism facilities on site and the provision of well managed green space for local people it will enhance the positive perception of England’s Northwest as a whole.”
Keith Jones, Regional Director of the Forestry Commission said:
“The Forestry Commission and NWDA are now looking forward to working with Lancashire Wildlife Trust to transform Brockholes. Together we will create a high quality wetland and woodland environment, which will enhance the local economy with jobs and investment, offer a high quality visitor experience and also provide a much needed green space for local communities and nature. As well as becoming an important natural environment attraction in its own right, Brockholes will make a significant contribution to the natural economy of the Northwest region.”
Construction will start later in 2009, using the “Floating World” designs by Adam Khan, the winner of the international, RIBA-sponsored design competition which took place in 2008. The reserve is scheduled to open to the public in 2011.
Brockholes will be one of the key attractions in the new Ribble Coast and Wetlands Regional Park, which stretches down the tidal reaches of the River Ribble to the Fylde coast.
www.lancswt.org.uk
BLRS AGM and Waverley Regeneraion, Rotherham, 29th April
Sun 19th Apr 2009
Our hosts will be the site owners UKCOAL and site planners Atisreal UK. The venue will be the new Technology Centre at the Advanced Manufacturing Park, Brunel Way, Rotherham, itself built within the first phase of redeveloped brownfield land at the former Orgreave site.
The day will begin with the BLRS Annual General Meeting . This is a chance for members to say how the society is run and opportunities to get more involved.
After the AGM, Atisreal UK project manager John Dunshea will describe the legacy, present challenges and future scope of the Waverley site. We will hear how the whole 741 acre site is seen as a national example of creating a small town of highly sustainable, environmentally sound housing, alongside a mix of commercial development anticipated to generate 10,000 jobs. The most recent phase includes an outline planning application submitted to Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council for approximately 4,000 houses, community facilities and green areas, together with a series of public consultation meetings in the area. There are also public access proposals to deliver 25 kilometres of new and restored footpaths, cycle routes and bridleways, linking local communities and helping to deliver government targets on sustainable transport and public health.
The second presentation will be from Sue Anderson, Director Designate of Harworth Estates (UKCOAL's property arm) who will describe the structure and operation of The Waverley Management Company. She will then throw the meeting open for a question and answer forum. She anticipates lots of questions!
After a buffet lunch there will be an opportunity to have a guided tour of the Waverley site in land rovers. The tour will include a visit to the highest point "The Hill" where we will have a useful overview of the whole 741 acre site. The tour will also visit the lakes, which are part of a surface water management scheme and a wildlife area.
The BLRS look forward to seeing you on the 29th April at Waverley. Please email for more information, info@blrs.org, or download the programme or Registration Form .
£8million of Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) investment at Brockholes
Thu 9th Apr 2009
Following last month’s planning approval for the new visitor centre and facilities, the way is now clear to allow construction work to begin.
The reserve will be the gateway to Preston and to the tourist attractions of the area. Although long known as one of the premier sites in the Northwest for migrating birds, it has no visitor facilities and is in need of work to make it safe and welcoming for visitors.
The investment has been made under ‘Newlands’, a NWDA and Forestry Commission programme that is regenerating brownfield land across the Northwest into economically viable community woodland. Launched in 2003, Newlands is investing a total of £59million into the region.
Ian Selby, Brockholes Project Manager, said ”We are absolutely delighted that the NWDA has recognized the importance of this project for the people and wildlife of Lancashire and beyond. This iconic development will demonstrate that wildlife can co-exist with people inside such a visitor attraction. We will have educational facilities alongside the usual visitor comforts and are hoping that we will attract day trippers, school parties, stop-offs and dedicated wildlife enthusiasts. We are creating jobs and adding to the appeal of the area for visitors. The centre will eventually be self-funding and will guarantee the future of the reserve for future generations.”
Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive at the NWDA said:
“The Brockholes development will not only provide an important and distinctive visitor attraction for the region, but will also influence future investment for the area with economic and social impacts felt at both a local and regional level. “The NWDA recognises that Brockholes is a key site for the region and is pleased to support the development. With an increase in visitor and tourism facilities on site and the provision of well managed green space for local people it will enhance the positive perception of England’s Northwest as a whole.”
Keith Jones, Regional Director of the Forestry Commission said:
“The Forestry Commission and NWDA are now looking forward to working with Lancashire Wildlife Trust to transform Brockholes. Together we will create a high quality wetland and woodland environment, which will enhance the local economy with jobs and investment, offer a high quality visitor experience and also provide a much needed green space for local communities and nature. As well as becoming an important natural environment attraction in its own right, Brockholes will make a significant contribution to the natural economy of the Northwest region.”
Construction will start later in 2009, using the “Floating World” designs by Adam Khan, the winner of the international, RIBA-sponsored design competition which took place in 2008. The reserve is scheduled to open to the public in 2011.
Brockholes will be one of the key attractions in the new Ribble Coast and Wetlands Regional Park, which stretches down the tidal reaches of the River Ribble to the Fylde coast.
www.lancswt.org.uk
Waverly Regeneration: BLRS Spring Conference and AGM
Thu 26th Mar 2009
The Regeneration of Waverley.
BLRS AGM and Spring Conference 2009: April 29th
BLRS AGM and Spring Conference 2009: April 29th
Advanced Technology Park, Waverley, Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
Programme
Registration Form
For AGM documents (Nomination forsm, past minutes etc) members can login and download them from the governance section. Any problems please email info@blrs.org.
Programme
Registration Form
For AGM documents (Nomination forsm, past minutes etc) members can login and download them from the governance section. Any problems please email info@blrs.org.
