Road surfacing work and road markings are scheduled for Wednesday 22nd March and visitors by car are likely to encounter delays on entry and exit and it may be advisable to access on foot via the canal towpaths.
In addition further work to the swing bridge is likely Wednesday 29th March and traffic will not be able to access the Reserve on this day. It will be possible, however, for pedestrians to access the Reserve via the bridge.
The Trust are pleased to be able to open the Reserve again tomorrow Sunday 12th March following inspection today. Reserve open from 9am and Visitor Centre from 10am. Summer closing times are now in force – Visitor Centre 4pm and Reserve 5pm.
In view of the forecast of very low temperatures tonight, the Trust has decided not to open tomorrow 11th March. We’ll keep Sunday opening under review until we can assess conditions tomorrow.
The Trust is pleased to announce that the canal bridge is now set as open to road traffic. However there will be occasional work being carried out for a few more weeks and so short term delay may occur. The staff working on the site are very reasonable so if there is a delay you are advised to have a word with them. In addition to this boat traffic on the canal is now possible and may cause delays as was the case previously.
Rodley Nature Reserve will open on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11th January 2023. Normal winter opening times will apply until the end of February :-
Reserve 9am – 4pm
Visitor Centre 10am – 3.30pm
Access is by foot along the canal towpath until further notice.
The most recent outbreaks are the largest ever and have killed many thousands of birds. Seabirds and geese have been particularly badly affected but it can affect other species too.
Several dead and sick geese were seen on the Lagoon and Wet Grassland on 1st January this year. We have already reported these to Defra ( Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).
What you should and should not do if you find any dead or sick birds on the Reserve –
- Report them at the Visitor Centre or by email to info@rodleynaturereserve.org We need to know where on the Reserve you saw the birds; the date you saw them, how many and what species if known.
- Do not pick up or touch any dead or sick birds.
- Do not touch any bird feathers or surfaces contaminated with their droppings.
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
The saga of the planned development at Rodley on the former Barker’s site (referred to in papers as Airedale Mills Rodley) next to the Reserve entrance continues.
- The original outline planning permission required the developers to maintain an ecology buffer along the banks of the river as a wildlife corridor along the River Aire.
- For an ecology buffer to achieve its purpose, it needs to be near continuous and undisturbed by public access to give adequate shelter to wildlife.
- It is now apparent that many of the trees in the buffer zone are scheduled to be removed or trimmed, including the 2 magnificent Weeping Willows, and a path created near the river.
- If carried out, this would undermine the whole purpose of the zone which among other things is known to be used by otters.
- Not only do the trees currently form part of an ecology buffer, but they also provide a screen for the Reserve which will shield its wildlife from disturbance caused by the sight of day to day human activity in the development and help dampen noise from it.
- The Trust has already made several comments criticising the developer’s application, some appearing under individual names and others as the RNR Trust, and will be commenting again on these latest plans.
- Additional comments and reactions to the proposals from our followers would be useful in ensuring damage to wildlife is minimised.
- Comments don’t need to be lengthy, but should concentrate on the importance of the Ecology Buffer area for wildlife using the River Aire corridor – the impact on local wildlife and Rodley Nature Reserve which will result if the plans, as they stand, are carried out.
Any other comments you wish to make may be useful. Details of the cat-proof fence they are supposed to install have not been produced by the developers, as far as we can see. (Follow the links below to read what others have said).
How to Make Comments and Objections
Objections to Proposals: Details of exactly what the developer is planning are shown in 5 papers posted on the planning site on 29th June, notably the Arboricultural Impact Assessment – these papers are complex and confusing and sometimes contradictory but the general intentions are clear ( see screen shot below).
To make objections you can consult:
https://www.leeds.gov.uk/planning/planning-permission/view-and-commenton-planning-applications
- Search for Airedale Mills Rodley
- You can register to make a comment
- Easiest to write the comment in advance and copy and paste onto the comment page
The applications to comment on are:
Ref. No: 21/09266/RM | Status: PCO | Case Type: Planning Application
and
Ref. No: 21/09388/COND | Status: PCO | Case Type: Planning Application
You can also send any comments or objections by post to:
Planning Services Leeds City Council, Merrion House, 110 Merrion Centre, Leeds LS2 8BB
Please note: You will need to include your full name, address and the reference number of the application you want to comment on.
With thanks as ever, for your ongoing support.
Rodley Nature Reserve Trust 12 July 2022
Unfortunately there has been further delays to the completion of the new access and swing bridge across the canal and it is now likely that the restricted opening will have to continue at least until mid December. Access via the canal towpath remains open.
Please note that the Reserve continues to be OPEN ONLY ON A SUNDAY until further notice – October 9am until 5pm and from November 9am until 4pm.
A further schedule of work has now been received from the Developer which, unfortunately, indicates that the completion of the engineering work to the swing bridge and access road is now likely to be mid October.
Further representations have now been made stating that the revised schedule is not acceptable. The Trust will continue to work closely with local councillors, Leeds City Council planning officers and Yorkshire Water to ensure rapid progress is made to protect the interests of the Reserve, its users and local communities.
In the interim the Sunday opening arrangements will continue with access via the canal towpath.
The Trust will continue to post information as soon as it becomes available.
Rodley Nature Reserve Trust, 28 May 2022
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