Contamination warning at nature reserve

The public are being warned to avoid parts of a nature reserve after potential industrial contaminants were found in soil and water.

Work has been taking place to improve Brookside Nature Reserve in Stanhill Village, Oswaldtwistle.

The 87-acre (35- hectare) Lancashire site was bought by Hyndburn Borough Council in 2022 for £245,000 as part of its nature recovery plan, with funding from the National Lottery and other organisations to restore the dilapidated green space.

An investigation into the currently unidentified contaminants at the reserve is taking place.

Recent testing, in part carried out by the teams of volunteers working to improve Brookside, found pollutants petroleum-based oils, solvents, phenols and pesticides in some sections of the site.

While the reserve remains open, authorities have erected signs around some sections of the site, towards its centre, warning walkers to stay away and keep dogs out of the water and on a lead.

While visitors are also being told to stick to paths, the council and the environmental groups working to improve the condition of the reserve are stressing that this advice is mainly a precautionary measure, while further and more extensive testing is carried out at the site.

Councillor Munsif Dad, leader of the council said: "We understand that news of potential contamination may cause concern, but I want to reassure residents that the council is already taking proactive steps to investigate and manage the situation."

It is expected that the results of the testing will be published in the autumn after Environmental Health officers, working alongside consultants RSK Geosciences, have completed their investigation, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

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