A COUNCIL looks set to pump over £1m into a proposed fishing lake and "floating cafe" next to a popular off-road cycle route.
The Green Business Network, which was formed by Kirklees and Calderdale councils in 1995, has been working on plans for a fish farm and outdoor learning centre on the site of former rail sidings in Walkley Lane, Heckmondwike.
Training and education for children excluded from school, those in mainstream education and offenders on community punishment orders.
Today Kirklees Council's cabinet is expected to approve spending £1.25m towards the total cost. The Environment Agency has allocated £60,000 towards the construction of the fishing lake, which will be accessible to all. It is intended to use the lake to teach schoolchildren to fish. The site will include a community cafe, the lake, picnic tables, and footpaths as well as a food production area consisting of an indoor fish farm and fruit and veg growing areas.
An innovative element of the project is the cafe on the site to serve those using the fishing ponds, picnic areas and paths.
It will be the only one on the adjoining greenway route which runs between Huddersfield and Bradford, currently used by more than 202,000 cyclists a year.
The cafe will be on a wetland, on a floating pontoon and will not be at risk from flooding.
The fish farm is expected to produce about 5,000kg of fish per annum, but only from the third year of the project.
A feasibility study of the fish hatchery proposals highlighted the need to establish to satisfy local demand for fish. A report on the plans before Kirklees Council says that producing sturgeon, tilapia, catfish and carp are the best options for meeting local demand.
The main outlet for the food produced at the site will be the cafe, the report says. The site could also produce fish pate, fish pies, soups, jams and chutneys.
It is also proposed that redundant rail coaches will be used on the site for public displays of fish. However, the use of rail coaches is dependent on the construction of a new road via Smithies Lane as it is not possible for a rail coach heavy lifter to access Spen Vale Street.
Members of the cabinet committee are discussing the offer of £1.25m funding at a meeting today from 4pm at Huddersfield Town Hall.
A council report on the Heckmondwike project describes it as a "catalyst for an alternative form of educational provision for young people, either disengaged or excluded from mainstream education", as well as offenders on community work.
A similar scheme, also set up by the Green Business Network, already exists in Wakefield.
Kirklees Council asked that the scheme be copied in Heckmondwike and allocated the 10-acre disused site for the project. The Heckmondwike project is known as Able2.
Training and education for children excluded from school, those in mainstream education and offenders on community punishment orders.
Today Kirklees Council's cabinet is expected to approve spending £1.25m towards the total cost. The Environment Agency has allocated £60,000 towards the construction of the fishing lake, which will be accessible to all. It is intended to use the lake to teach schoolchildren to fish. The site will include a community cafe, the lake, picnic tables, and footpaths as well as a food production area consisting of an indoor fish farm and fruit and veg growing areas.
An innovative element of the project is the cafe on the site to serve those using the fishing ponds, picnic areas and paths.
It will be the only one on the adjoining greenway route which runs between Huddersfield and Bradford, currently used by more than 202,000 cyclists a year.
The cafe will be on a wetland, on a floating pontoon and will not be at risk from flooding.
The fish farm is expected to produce about 5,000kg of fish per annum, but only from the third year of the project.
A feasibility study of the fish hatchery proposals highlighted the need to establish to satisfy local demand for fish. A report on the plans before Kirklees Council says that producing sturgeon, tilapia, catfish and carp are the best options for meeting local demand.
The main outlet for the food produced at the site will be the cafe, the report says. The site could also produce fish pate, fish pies, soups, jams and chutneys.
It is also proposed that redundant rail coaches will be used on the site for public displays of fish. However, the use of rail coaches is dependent on the construction of a new road via Smithies Lane as it is not possible for a rail coach heavy lifter to access Spen Vale Street.
Members of the cabinet committee are discussing the offer of £1.25m funding at a meeting today from 4pm at Huddersfield Town Hall.
A council report on the Heckmondwike project describes it as a "catalyst for an alternative form of educational provision for young people, either disengaged or excluded from mainstream education", as well as offenders on community work.
A similar scheme, also set up by the Green Business Network, already exists in Wakefield.
Kirklees Council asked that the scheme be copied in Heckmondwike and allocated the 10-acre disused site for the project. The Heckmondwike project is known as Able2.
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