Volunteers litter pick on the Ingol Dip

Plans to spruce up green land in Ingol have been greeted with support from local residents.

The locally known Ingol Dip will get new footpaths and be declared a “wildlife corridor” if environmental work is approved by Preston City Council.

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The proposals from the Ingol Community Association and landowners Community Gateaway Association will see a tree planting scheme undertaken by local schools.

The Dip also extends down to the Lancashire Canal and Haslam Park and Nature Reserve are nearby, so the works should improve biodiversity in the area.

Vice-chairman of the Ingol Community Association, Gordon Wang, said they hoped to make the space more interesting to local people.

He said: “It’s not well used at the moment, people just cut across from one estate to the other.

“It started a few years ago when we discussed with the police about improving the area and one of the top ideas was what to do with The Dip.”

Mr Wang, who has lived in Ingol for 14 years, said they wanted to make the area more accessible.

“It’s very steep at the moment,” he said, “but with new paths it means if you’ve got a push chair or wheelchair it will be a lot easier.”

“Community Gateway have been great in drawing up the plans and we are also working with Woodland Trust to plant trees and make it a good place for wildlife.

“I’m particularly looking forward to seeing what it will be like in the spring and summer. I think it’ll be a great place to spend some time.”

It is hoped the land, which runs behind Cromer Place and Westbrook Crescent in Ingol, will become a popular spot for local children and families.

View a map showing the local of Ingol Dip

View Ingol Dip in a larger map

Local residents were consulted in the plans after the Community Association ran a survey at a summer fair and bingo night last year, which found unanimous support for improving the area.

The work is expected to cost around £90,000 and is funded by the council, Woodland Trust and a Green Spaces grant.

The plans will go before the council’s planning committee on Monday 5th March at the Town Hall. You can view the full details of the planning application on the council website.