Roe deer have been spotted in the Pope Lane Nature Reserve which has become a valuable space for wildlife

Changes to stop motorbikes blighting a nature reserve in the East of the city will be heard by councillors next month.

A planning application has been submitted by Preston city council to install barriers blocking motorcycles tearing through the wildlife area.

Advertisements

The Pope Lane Nature Reserve in Ribbleton has suffered problems with motorcycle nuisance and now special restrictor barriers will be placed at the gateway to the site to protect it.

An overhaul of the reserve will also see new footpaths created to allow easier walking around the site and more cycle racks to link in with the Guild Wheel cycle route which passes along the eastern side of the reserve.

The area used to be a playing field but the grass has been left to grow and it is now home to buzzards, roe deer and many other species.

The changes have the support of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust and the ecology team of Lancashire county council.

Plans are available online on the council website and anyone wishing to comment should write to the Planning Department, Environment Directorate, Lancastria House, 77-79 Lancaster Road, Preston, PR1 2RH or email devcon@preston.gov.uk. All responses should be sent by 26th November 2011 and should include the reference number 06/2011/0877.

The planning committee will decide whether to go ahead with the changes on Monday 5th December 2012.

Image credit to freefotouk

Do you live in the area? What do you think about the proposals? Is motorcycle nuisance a problem in the area? Let us know in the comments below