Dove Stone Action Plan

United Utilities has worked closely with its partners and local stakeholders to create an action plan to improve the experience of visitors to Dove Stone and to reduce the impact from the high volumes of visitor traffic on those who use the site regularly.

We have commissioned several surveys over the last 12 months to better understand what improvements can be made to meet the priorities and commitments we have agreed (please see below). We already deliver multiple measures on site, regularly trial various new options and the plan below sets out further steps we will take.

We have discussed this plan with local stakeholders and groups who have an interest in the site and we pledge to update it regularly on this page to provide a clear record of progress.

In 12 months’ time, we will hold a meeting with local stakeholders to review progress and refine the plan for the medium to long term, assessing the impact of measures taken over the next year.

Priorities

• Safety of local residents, the community and multiple users of the site
• Reducing the impact of high volumes of visitor traffic on local residents/community
• Ensuring an improved visitor experience for all, without increasing the number of visitors to the site
• Find solutions working in partnership, taking on board views from other stakeholders and residents
• Developing a long term strategy with range of surveys, trials and data collation to make informed, evidence based decisions

Commitments

Infrastructure – We commit to continue to maintain the infrastructure and making improvements where appropriate

Communications & Engagement – We commit to educate and engage with all forms of media/stakeholders on key topics such as the Countryside Code, reservoir safety and fire risk

People – We commit to responsible staffing, involving volunteers and to undertake safety audits

Traffic, Parking & Enforcement – We commit to further trials and reviewing items such as pre-booking parking and temporary overflow parking areas, working with those organisations with enforcement responsibilities

Please see our action plan for further details on the commitments listed.

Alongside these commitments we will be working as a partnership team to discuss, develop and trial various long term strategic solutions to further improve the visitor experience including better use of available technologies, more extensive facility upgrades and reviewing the commercial arrangements to ensure they support and drive improvements to the area. We will endeavor to release further details of these as we make progress.

Infrastructure

• Continuation of maintenance of site infrastructure including fencing and signage to provide a safe visitor experience and local community nature asset
• Utilise electronic messaging signs on strategic access roads to display car parking capacity & safety messaging (at expected busy periods)
• Continue regular litter and fly-tipping management at site
• Review and respond to the need for additional and seasonal signage, on topics such as fire risk
• Maintain and review the recently installed CCTV at the club house, to monitor car parking usage and anti-social/illegal behaviours. Install further CCTV at the toilet block this spring.
• Consider and explore permanent highway messaging signage on approaches to site
• Consider improvements to the footpath provisions (especially surfaces) where appropriate
• Explore additional sources of funding, such as grants to support infrastructure related improvements.

Communications & Engagement

• Targeted media communications on safety messages including the Countryside Code, reservoir safety and moorland fire risk (also at expected busy periods) – all partners to support communicating key messages
• No proactive advertising of the area across partner and local/national media other than in relation to specific business activities
• Production of regular topical and seasonal news stories which will be provided to key stakeholders to update them on work within the area
• Continuation of attendance at key stakeholder meetings including close liaison with stakeholders such as Oldham Council parking enforcement & various police teams
• Further development and strengthening of our stakeholder engagement plan
• Work with the local authorities to ensure continuation of the Public Space Protection Order within the area specifically linked to BBQ and fire risk
• Better education for visitors primarily through signage and interpretation boards focusing on responsible behaviour.

People

• Continually review the staffing presence, including extra UU staff plus paid security marshals at expected busy periods.
• From March 2022, RSPB fire rangers will be patrolling site to engage with visitors concerning fire risk
• Continue undertaking annual safety audits
• Mobilise existing volunteer support to ensure a visible presence and support any required expansion of the existing organised volunteer program including appropriate equipment (such as litter picking)
• Continue local educational engagement – supporting apprentices and associated programmes, school groups and college students with conservation research project/activities.

Traffic, Parking & Enforcement

• Continue to deploy car parking marshals/events company in the short term on expected busy periods and review their future role
• Continue discussions with relevant authorities on additional traffic management measures such as additional line painting within busiest road sections
• Review options for trialling a temporary overflow car park at a suitable area across the site (to be used on expected busy periods) to take the pressure off the road network and other areas of parking. Personnel will be provided to ease traffic flow on these periods.
• Review parking restrictions and enforcement in conjunction with police and highways
• Consideration of development of an online pre-booking system for parking spaces
• Consider Park & Ride options for Oldham / Ashton area.