A NATURE reserve in Oswaldtwistle could be placed in the hands of the community, it has emerged.

The Jackhouse Nature Reserve has been recommended for disposal by councillors conducting a land review in the area.

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However, ownership will only be transferred to a group that would ‘“keep and enhance”’ the nature reserve, documents show.

Last year’s Hyndburn mayor, CllrCoun Judith Addison, said she had urged the council to open discussions with a group of volunteers working on the site.

She said: “I said there was this very active group of friends now working to restore the nature reserve, and if they there were to be talk of the council disposing of the site to anybody, such as at a peppercorn rate, then the Friends of Jackhouse Nature Reserve should be approached in the first instance, with discussions held with them.”

The nature reserve once housed two of Oswaldtwistle’s three reservoirs, back when the town had its own district council.

When the reservoirs were closed, the area, known as Cocker Cobbs, was turned into the Jackhouse Nature Reserve. CllrCoun Addison said: “Over the years it became very neglected because the council had no money to invest in it.”

In 2012, CllrCoun Addison attended a Police and Communities Together meeting to discuss local crime with the neighbourhood policing team.

It was there she was presented with an action plan drawn up by a nearby resident. She said: “He had sent it to the council and had no response. After the meeting I began contacting the council and the Prospects Foundation.

“Since then, a lot has happen and there’s been a group formed called the Friends of Jackhouse Nature Reserve.”

The group regularly meets at The Plough pub in Broadfield, and carries out work to improve the reserve.

CllrCoun Addison said: “They got a £30,000 grant to carry out work, which is more or less complete now.

“The idea is the reserve will eventually be restored to its former glory, and better than it used to be.

“It could become a reserve for people of all ages to go and walk around up there.”

The Friends of Jackhouse Nature Reserve could not be reached for a comment.