A PARISH council has taken the responsibility for a nature reserve to carry out £135,000-worth of enhancements.

Senior councillors approved a recommendation to hand over Shurlock Row Nature Reserve’s lease to Waltham St Lawrence Parish Council for nearly 100 years on very low rent.

The report states the parish council is “better place to respond to the needs of local residents in this area”.

The 12-acre land was bought by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in 2009 to retain the field as a conservation area.

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The council and parish council worked together to outline plans to enhance the nature reserve, such as adding a new pond, with a proposed car park and play area.

A £135,000 bid of external funding was successfully received in 2017 to carry this out.

A public consultation was conducted with residents and received positive feedback. The parish now wants to increase access to the open space and nature reserve while protecting and maintaining the wildlife that thrives there.

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Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Thursday, April 28, councillor Phil Haseler (Con: Cox Green), lead member for planning, parking, highways, and transport, said: “This proposal will clearly be of great benefit to the community and making use of a field that is clearly underused.”

Hurley and Walthams Cllr Maureen Hunt (Con) said she was “delighted” with the proposal, saying it was a “long time coming”.