WELLINGTON Town Council is to investigate further the possibility of taking ownership of extra land at The Basins local nature conservation area.

The council’s environment and open spaces committee recently agreed to look into the legalities of taking on six parcels of land at The Basins.

A couple of years ago the council was in discussion with the Crown Estate, which legally looks after the popular nature reserve, about buying the whole area and taking on its management.

It came after councillors agreed in October 2019 to go-ahead with installing much-needed safety fencing along either side of the causeway by the two large ponds at The Basins, excavated in the early 1800s to provide a constant flow of water to power the Fox Brothers factory.

Councillors had mulled over whether to do the work or not as the council did not own the land in question and was therefore not responsible for it, despite the obvious safety concerns about people falling into the water.

But they finally decided to do the work when they were told that although the Crown Estate would not give the council official permission to carry out the fencing project, it would not necessarily take any action against the authority if it did.

Councillors have now agreed that further work should be carried out to see if the council can take on The Basins.

It was agreed that a legal firm be employed to find out what land parcels the town council can take ownership of.

For the full story see this week’s Wellington Weekly News.