Blue Lakes Country Park Update

Its been a couple of months since the last posting. No news hasn't meant that nothing has been happening. Steve Cranston and Geoff Cheason would like to thank all who have spent time talking about Blue Lakes - giving feedback on how the project could be strengthened and identifying where it fits with partners plans. A summary plan has been share with Ebbw Vale Development Trust and will inform future meetings with colleagues at the council .

It can be downloaded here

Particular thanks go to:

Chris Engel and Deborah Beeson at Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council who have offered very helpful insights into Blue Lakes biodiversity challenges and opportunities.

Ross Murray at Newbridge Construction. Newbridge own the adjacent Bryn Seth site and have been enthusiastic about Blue Lakes and followed up on a number of potentially mutually beneficial partnership opportunities. The Country Park idea will only really work if the major landowner (Newbridge) collaborate around access and joint management issues. Ross has been proactive with advice and offers of support. The final location of the new Cafe/Restaurant/Education and Heritage Centre is still being scoped - Newbridge have been most helpful in exploring site options to the north of the middle lake and EVAD are most grateful for this cooperation.

A full list of consultees is:

o Deborah Beeson, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council Biodiversity Officer
o Chris Engel, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, Planning Dept
o Lyn Cobley and Ray Slatterly, Ebbw Vale Welfare Angling Club
o David James, Corus
o Paul Tredegar Angling Supplies
o Kevin Jakeway, Creative Communities
o Tony Rees, Merthyr Tydfil Angling Club and Secretary of South East Wales Rivers Trust
o Alyson Tippings, Blaenau Gwent Count Borough Council Tourism and Leisure Dept
o Frank Olding Blaenau Gwent County Borough County Borough Council Heritage Officer
o Andrew Osbourne, Welsh Assembly Government DET, Valleys Regional Park
o John Davies, Ebbw Vale and District Development Trust
o Kevan Lines, Ebbw Vale and District Development Trust
o Mark Samuel, Environment Agency
o Steve Spode Welsh Assembly Government DET Section 15 Officer
o Roger Finn, Gwent Wildlife Trust
o Berry Coffman, Groundwork Wales
o Jessica Osborn, Tredegar Development Trust
o Ross Murray, Newbridge Construction
o Dai Llewellyn, Abertillery Communities First
o Dean Price, Local fisherman

A consultation workshop with these and more local stakeholders (especially those involved with the Communities First partnerhips) will take place on Monday 21st July. A future post will shortly give more details.