Plan to buy land for Salisbury nature reserve gets £50k boost

A city council has awarded £50,000 to a group planning to buy 35 acres of natural habitat to create a nature reserve.

The popular area in Salisbury, known locally as Broken Bridges, is part of a former farm and is in the River Avon Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Now designated as an asset of community value, a not-for-profit group has agreed a price with the owner and is trying to raise £250,000 to buy the land.

The latest funding means the group has reached more than £200,000, with Jeremy Nettle, chair of the Broken Bridges Community Interest Company, calling it "a tremendous step forward".

Once the land has been bought, there are plans to improve the path, replace fencing and support wildlife.

Based between Bemerton and Harnham, the land is on the water meadows and surrounds a footpath.

At a meeting this week, Salisbury City Council agreed to use money from its Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) to put towards the purchase.

The levy is given to the council by developers carrying out big building projects and it cannot be used for day-to-day running costs.

"This is a tremendous step forward and we wish to thank both the council and all the people and groups in the community that have made donations," said Mr Nettle.

Mr Nettle, who is also a city councillor, added: This is a huge demonstration of the public support for bringing this much-loved area into community ownership."

He explained that the funds would allow the group to "unlock" more money from Wiltshire Council.

Members of the public have also donated £80,000.

Mr Nettle added: "It is a green lung giving people access to nature whilst working to improve the much-needed access between Churchfields, the Railway Station and the new housing developments on Netherhampton Road."