The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

 

A disused limestone quarry, Breakheart Quarry, near Berkeley Decommissioning Site has been handed over to the local community for development as a wildlife and recreational area. 

The 52-acre Gloucestershire quarry is owned by the NDA and was once used by the UK's nuclear industry for testing the strength and durability of structures and components intended for use on power stations – though it never saw any nuclear activity.

Already open to the public, the woodland site is well used by walkers, cyclists, bird-watchers and a motorcycle trials club.

Now the NDA has finalised a long lease arrangement with community organisation Breakheart Community Project which will allow the installation of more formal facilities such as waymarked trails, information boards, upgrading of existing buildings, establishment of a study centre and improved access. The 52 acres of woodland and open space is home to a number of locally and nationally rare species including the dormouse, badger, buzzard, chalk hill blue butterfly, small-leaved lime and moonwort. The Cotswold Way, which achieved National Trail status two years ago, also runs close to the site.

Membership of the Breakheart Community Project, which is in the process of seeking funding support from a range of potential sources to take its plans forward, is open to members of the local community.

The project's financial director Chris Cherry said:

"We are keen to move ahead and have already been able to repair the perimeter fencing, for example, erect some information boards and install special key-controlled gates that improve access for the disabled.

"We have spoken to many community organisations, such as Scouts and Guides, as well as local schools and athletics clubs, and believe the site has the potential to become a valuable outdoors facility for the whole community."

The NDA's Commercial Director Sean Balmer added:

"We are delighted to hand this over to the community and look forward to seeing it develop as a local leisure asset."

A website www.breakheart-community-project.org.uk has been developed for anyone interested in following the project's progress.

This site is located south of Dursley on the South Cotswold escarpment on the edge of the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Classified as Regionally Important Geological site, the site is important for its geology and ancient woodlands. Many marine fossils have been located within the different layers of the quarry.