I AM writing with regard to the proposed plans at Burrator Reservoir and comments that have been made (Times, May 5).

While many dog owners obey the South West Water (SWW)?rule that dogs must be kept on a lead on the inner footpath, many also don’t. For those of us nervous of dogs that should be the one area where we are free to walk in nature without fear. Even the wardens are verbally abused by some who blatantly ignore the signs, when the arboretum is also an enclosed area where dogs can be walked off a lead. By creating a dog exercise area with a reservoir view, maybe some owners will put their dogs back on the lead elsewhere.

Fly fishing involves by its very nature hooks flying so it is a sensible health and safety measure to fence off a specific fishing area. If this area is not successful, it’s merely a matter of removing a fence to restore the site. Anglers are one of the few user groups that bring an income to Burrator by buying fishing permits which helps to pay for maintenance and improvements for all users.

As the interior of Longstone point has been opened up it will make a perfect picnic site with the farm ruins and water views in a safe environment for children.  

Including an area to encourage wildlife and for people to be immersed in nature means South West Lake Trust (SWLT) is absolutely fulfilling its remit. There are proven links between being in nature and better mental health and children who are frequently out in nature have been proven to better deal with stress as adults.

As for an events area, SWW recently had an area by the reservoir levelled for use only for the annual fishing feast; the feast is paid for by SWW and Plymouth City Council bill payers and costs far into the £10,000s each year, all for a nice view over the water on their annual event while drinking Pimms and eating a catered meal, sat in a marquee that will have its sides closed if the weather is inclement! There are marquees already erected at head weir for the ‘blessing of the water’ so why not use those for the feast and save this further expense?  

SWW own the fenced head weir area and the parking area at Norsworthy Bridge and usage is by their permission. With the success of the 2015 American music gathering at head weir, I cannot fathom any objection to more events. The gathering couldn’t be heard from any distance and there was little associated traffic, yet it brought in important income.

Vehicles can be directed via the Welltown crossroad on the Princetown road so it need not affect Sheepstor in any way.  In fact, with several access roads onto the reservoir the only traffic issues I have encountered are at the dam on busy summer days and traffic is well within the current road infrastructure capability.

As for commercialism claims I only have one word: balderdash! The Discovery Centre doesn’t sell rock or postcards or tacky t-shirts, but provides both current and historical information and has opened up another parking area. If the Trust was so concerned with commercialism, they’d be charging for parking, instead of having a donations post and their events would cost more —the Easter egg trail was a mere £2 for a marked trail and an egg at the end — what value!

SWLT is a charity and only a relatively small amount of their funding comes from SWW; the rest has to be found from grants, events, activities, fishing permits etc. They do a fantastic job managing the land for access, education, recreation and conservation. Most people don’t see the hard work the staff and volunteers do for the benefit of so many and they are constantly trying to find a balance to develop the site for all user groups.  

I cannot help but feel that a few vocal people are completely dismissing all the good the staff and volunteers at Burrator achieve and for which they should be applauded, not only in the many past years, but also under the aegis of the current Burrator Project.

JP

Plymouth