DISUSED reservoirs at a beauty spot may now become fishing lakes.

The move follows refusal to allow the building of eco-bungalows at the controversial Baildon site.

And an enforcement notice banning the tipping of spoil to infill the two large basins has now been reinstated after the collapse of an appeal.

An application to landscape and build two grass-roofed bungalows at the stone- walled Acre reservoir was refused by City Hall planners this summer and the owner, Andy Jones, now has six months to lodge an appeal against that decsion.

But a new poster has just appeared on the reservoir gates which reads “Acre Reservoir Fishing Lakes”.

Mr Jones said he was continuing with the eco-bungalows plan and would be lodging a planning appeal.

He said: “But I’ve put the banner up as I’m seriously considering making it into two proper fishing lakes - which I think would keep everyone quiet who’s worried about the bungalows plan. I would stock it with carp. There are already fish in the lower of the two reservoirs which we moved when we drained the other one.”

Meanwhile, an appeal by Mr Jones against an enforcement notice over continued tipping at the site and requiring re-instatement to a natural landscape has not been validated.

A Bradford Council spokesman said: “We have issued an enforcement notice and were awaiting the outcome of a review with the planning inspectorate as to whether the appeal against this notice is valid.

“But we have just been informed that the appeal against the enforcement notice is not valid. We will investigate any breach of the notice and take appropriate action.”

Gill Dixon, Baildon Town Council chairman, said: “I share the concerns about continued activity on this sensitive site on Baildon Moor, the impact on wildlife, and the visual impact of continued heavy construction work on this prominent location. The original enforcement notice will now come into practical effect, and the enforcement process will come into play.”

Councillor Mike Pollard (Con, Baildon) said: “In the event of defiance of those terms, residents can be assured there are ramped up sanctions in law and I, with my ward councillor colleagues, will continue to engage with Council officers.”

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