Boost to disabled access at Ardsley Reservoir

Yorkshire Water have provided a kissing gate at Ardsley Reservoir as part of a project to improve disabled access at the popular visitor attraction.

The 1.5-mile route around the perimeter of the lake is flat and suitable for walkers all ages and abilities, and the site owners have also carried out work to widen and resurface the paths and cut back vegetation to make them easier to use.

The new gate, which will also benefit families with pushchairs, is next to the main entrance and can be used by people with an NKS Radar key, which allows the gate to open fully.

Parking is also available nearby at Haigh Moor Road in Tingley.

The reservoir, which stores water from Ripponden and Barnsley, supplies the Wakefield area and the Coca-Cola plant.

Yorkshire Water recreations officer Alastair Harvey hopes the improvements will help to make the site more family-friendly.

“We hope that these latest upgrades will improve the experience disabled visitors and families have when they visit Ardsley. “Unfortunately now we’ve had some warmer weather, the issue of dog mess left on the Ardsley paths has again been raised. A minority of irresponsible dog walkers have not been picking up the fouling by their dogs, which spoils the experience for other visitors when they have to dodge the mess.

“This is a particular problem for wheelchair users as the mess gets onto the wheels and can be transferred onto hands, potentially posing a health hazard for this group of visitors.”

Reservoir site managers have reminded dog walkers to keep their pets on a lead and to dispose of mess in bags which can be deposited in the car park bins.