Access to Backwell Lake for all - what do you think?

By Carol_Deacon | Tuesday, August 02, 2011, 18:31

Work could start this October to build a path around Backwell Lake for wheelchair users but some conservationists aren't happy with the intrusion for wildlife.

IN THE BAG: Jane Sabherwal, of Backwell Festival Committee presenting the £600 cheque to BAG members
Backwell Lake is actually a flood management facility owned by Wessex water

The project is being led by Backwell Access Group (BAG) a small group of disabled adults campaigning for access to local amenities.

Alison Morgan said: "The improvements we campaign for are of benefit to the whole community.

"Our latest project is to get an all-weather, fully accessible, path around Backwell Lake to enable everyone to enjoy this beautiful amenity all year round.

"Careful consideration has been given to the importance of the wildlife and bio-diversity of the site, together with its function as a balancing pond and part of the flood defences.

"We have been working closely with Wessex Water and Backwell Environmental Trust.

North Somerset district and town councillor Jan Barber is representative on Wessex Water Liaison Panel.

Mrs Barber said: "Wessex Water is trying to balance the various conflicting views from the nature conservationists who want to retain it wholly as a wildlife reserve and the public who like to go down to the lake and have a picnic or even play a ball game.

"Access is very important and as the land can become waterlogged and inaccessible when we have had a little rain."

However, she said, some conservationists are minded to keep the area solely for wildlife with visitors forced to walk around in the long grass.

Mrs Barber added: "A councillor only this morning was getting a bit upset about it as they considered it was easy to walk round the site.

"I totally agree when you are able-bodied and when we have had very little rain."

A successful Stage 1 Application has been made to the Big Lottery Fund for a Community Spaces Grant and BAG intend to submit its Stage 2 Application as soon as planning permission is granted.

Backwell Festival Committee has donated £600 towards the project and Bristol Airport Community Fund gave £1,000.

Alison added: "We are very grateful to Nailsea Town Council and Backwell Parish Council for their help and support and for funding the professional fees incurred in putting together our lottery applications.

"It has taken three years of negotiations to reach this stage and it is hoped that our Lottery Stage 2 Application will be successful and that work can start this October."

Previously Mrs Morgan successfully campaigned for the path to be widened under the railway bridge at Nailsea and Backwell station to enable people with motorised wheelchairs and buggies to go back and forth.

Mrs Barber added: "A path at Backwell Lake seems to be a very good idea to enable the disabled to access the whole area.

"I do think that such an amenity - and we have very little 'parkland' available in Nailsea and Backwell - should be used by as many people as possible, while doing our best to protect the wildlife.

"Children do need to be encouraged to appreciate nature and to enjoy the outdoors and the path will enable parents with prams to push them round the lake area and it is probably a good thing for the wildlife that residents will then keep to the path."

Currentlly BAG is one of the green token choices in the Community Matters scheme run by Waitrose supermarket at Nailsea.

Nailsea Disability Initiative has produced a Nailsea Access Directory which lists shops, pubs and places in the town that are wheelchair friendly including toilets with 'radar key' access and car parks with disabled spaces.

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Comments

With regard to the hard engineered solution, this has been requested by the land owners for ease of long term maintenance and safety. The safety issue was highlighted following research into types of paths used for other projects. It is more cost effective to learn from the experiences of others. We only have one funding opportunity and cannot afford a trial run.

I accept that as a disabled person there are some things that I am no longer able to do and would not expect the world to be changed just to accommodate my needs. However, this project has never been solely about disabled access but to make it easier for everyone of all ages and abilities to enjoy the wildlife at the lake all year round. We have consulted with a wide number of community groups and residents and the main concern was the mud and poor access after bad weather along with the threat to the wildlife through the erosion caused by people trying to avoid the muddiest parts.

We hope the area will retain it's charm and that in a few years time when everything has settled down it will feel as if the path has always been there.

By rabba at 10:59 on 28/10/11
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And I'm sorry that you think that this is in any way motivated by stopping disabled people from enjoying things. The reality of life is that there do remain some things you cannot do and in some cases I feel it detremental to the environment to change so that you ARE able to do them - this is one of those cases. Am I not entitled to my opinion? This path may well get built and if it does, good luck to you and I hope you get lots of use out of it. For me though, the lake will not be the same, or quite as enjoyable for it. I'm sure I'm not the only one to think this.

My point about Dartmoor was extreme and obviously designed to illustrate a point, but really, whether or not you personally think this sewage overflow is an area of outstanding natural beauty or not, I do think that it will lose some of its charm with the addition of the path.

I am complaining about what is being done to an area I like, not those who want it. I am saddened by the result, not those pushing for it.

By pfert at 00:26 on 28/10/11
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Why can access be improved by simple methods like improving drainage for the boggy bits and reprofiling the grass by rolling.

If that was tried first and found not to benefit access then the push to have an hard engineered solution as in the granted planning permission would be more understandable.

By battypersona at 21:45 on 27/10/11
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Since when has a drain for the local sewage operators been declared an area of outstanding natural beauty on a par with Dartmoor National Park?

We have worked with local environmental groups and other experts to ensure that we do not spoil the environment. If you had checked the planning documentation before criticising you would have seen that we HAVE asked for a compacted gravel path. there will still be plenty of grass for those fortunate to be able to walk on to still enjoy doing so.

Any change to these plans will be at the request of the Somerset Levels Internal Drainage Board and not disabled people.

I'm sorry if you feel that getting close to nature should be a pleasure reserved only for the able bodied and that those of us in wheelchairs should be content to stay at home watching daytime television.

By rabba at 11:31 on 26/10/11
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I think a path around Backwell Lake is a terrible idea... It's a nature reserve, are we going to put a nice tarmac path up mountains, over the peak district, over fields now? I'm all for open access for all, but don't ruin the thing you're trying to see in the process. I suspect the same people who love the idea of the tarmac path also are against the pylons which are planned for the area though - double standards, in my opinion.

Why not put a huge multi-story carpark in the middle of Dartmoor to allow more people to go there?

If there has to be a path, can it not be gravel, bark or something at least vaguely natural?

On a side note, it's such a huge shame to see that people who hold valid opposition to this get labelled as disgusting by those who don't seem to understand that holding different viewpoints doesn't automatically make someone your enemy.

By pfert at 00:39 on 26/10/11
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