Part of country park to close for pond safety work

Part of Shipley Country Park is to close for four months to allow safety work to be carried out.

Derbyshire County Council said a project to stabilise the dam at Osborne's Pond means Shipley Lane bridleway will be closed at the point it crosses the dam - close to the entrance from Roper Avenue - from 6 July.

Other footpath and bridleway routes around the pond will remain open, the authority added.

The work, which involves lowering the weir to reduce the volume of water and remodelling the downstream slope of the dam to increase its stability, is due to be completed by the end of November.

Derbyshire County Council said it had a legal duty to maintain the safety of the pond, which is classed as a reservoir, and it would not be feasible or safe to carry out the work during winter.

Carol Wood, cabinet member for environment, said: "This construction work is needed to ensure we can continue to keep visitors and the surrounding area safe.

"We're putting measures in place to help protect wildlife in the pond during the safety works and we'll do all we can to make sure the project is completed as quickly as possible."

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