A far-reaching action plan to improve visitors' experience and reduce the impact on locals at one of Oldham’s favourite beauty spots has been revealed.

Utility giant United Utilities is working closely with partners RSPB, Oldham Council and local stakeholders, to reduce the impact of high volumes of visitor traffic at Dovestones Reservoir, Greenfield.

A park and ride, trialling a temporary overflow car park and a pre-booking system are some of the measures being considered. 

Over the last year, the company has commissioned surveys to better understand what improvements can be made to meet priorities and agree commitments at the site.

They say they already deliver multiple measures on site, regularly trial new options and pledge to provide “a clear record of progress,” with a promise to hold a meeting within a year with local stakeholders to review and refine the plan for the medium and long term.

The report states: “We commit to continue to maintain the infrastructure and making improvements where appropriate.

“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.

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

“We commit to further trials and review pre-booking parking and temporary overflow parking areas, working with organisations with enforcement responsibilities.

“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.

“These include better use of available technologies, more extensive facility upgrades and review commercial arrangements to ensure they support and drive improvements to the area.”

It follows Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, expressing  “incredible disappointment” in March at the failure to answer problems at the beauty spot.

Over the years, the site has been plagued by illegal barbecues, rubbish dumping, moorland fire threats and locals marooned in their homes by a deluge of traffic visiting the site and causing problems in nearby Greenfield.