A village in Preston has been handed back control of three reservoirs.

Victoria bodies of water in Grimsargh are now controlled by the community after years of negotiation.

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United Utilities has formally handed the maintenance of the reservoirs to Grimsargh Parish Council who are now responsible for their upkeep and future.

Proposals for the site see a small number of homes being built alongside the roadside of the reservoir to fund the rest of the site becoming a nature reserve.

Planning manager at United Utilities Andrew Leyssen said: “We always look at opportunities to achieve environmental benefits in balance with supported investment.

“This is a prime example of United Utilities working with the local Parish Council and community who understandably had feared the long term future of the Grimsargh Reservoirs site as a nature reserve, to find a suitable compromise.

“By developing a small section of land fronting the main road with high quality homes, we have been able to hand over the redundant reservoirs and embankments to the Parish Council with a pot of money to help towards the ongoing maintenance and enhancement of the habitat.”

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The Grimsargh Wetlands Trust has been set up to manage the project of making the site accessible to the public and a better environment for wildlife.

Parish council chairman Lindsay Phillipson said: “The land came to the parish council with a dowry of £191,384. Although this is a substantial amount of money, it must be carefully conserved to cover the costs of maintenance and improvement forever, and will be supplemented by enthusiastic fund raising.

“We are absolutely thrilled after all the years of negotiations the site’s future is secure.”

Do you live in Grimsargh? What do you think of the plans? Let us know in the comments below