Popular city reservoirs set to reopen
TWO much-loved Cardiff reservoirs are finally to fully reopen to the public for the first time in around 20 years after being restored by Dwr Cymru.
Llanishen and Lisvane reservoirs are full again after being drained during a long-running planning battle over proposals to build hundreds of homes on the site.
Dwr Cymru, which bought the site in 2016 to safeguard it for the future, said it plans to open its new visitor centre at the reservoirs in the coming weeks.
The visitor centre will again allow people to take part in a range of watersport activities at the site.
Llanishen reservoir was once a popular sailing, fishing and walking spot.
Olympic sailor Hannah Mills was one of the many people who first learned to sail at the site.
However, the site was fenced off and ultimately drained by Americanowned power giant Western Power Distribution (WPD) as it repeatedly tried and failed to get planning permission for 300 homes at the site.
The local Reservoir Action Group (Rag) fought the plans for more than a decade through repeated planning applications and a public inquiry.
The long-term future of the site was finally secured in 2016 when Dwr Cymru acquired a 999-year lease for the reservoirs from steel firm Celsa, which had bought it two years earlier from WPD, which is owned by US firm Pennsylvania Power and Light.
It has taken seven years for Dwr
Cymru to be in a position to formally reopen the reservoirs as a visitor attraction.
Dwr Cymru said the aim had been to create a hub for recreation, health and well-being as well as an area for people to reconnect with water and the environment. The new visitor centre is near completion, and will feature a cafe with views of the reservoirs and a range of water sport activities.
Since taking over the site, Dwr Cymru has carried out work to restore the reservoirs, including clearing vegetation, repairing stone pitching on the inside of the dam, repairing and replacing pipes, and reinstating the perimeter fence.
The company also had to drain Llanishen reservoir to fully inspect it before allowing it to safely refill.
In January 2022, work began on the hub. Setbacks due to challenges with the supply of materials caused delay to the original opening date in May, but the site is now due to open this summer, with the official date yet to be confirmed.
During National Volunteers’ Week, which ran from June 1 to June 7, volunteers from Friends of Cardiff Reservoirs (FoCR) helped get the site ready to welcome visitors.
Peter Fullerton, deputy chair of FoCR, said: “I’m really looking forward to the reservoirs and new visitor centre opening to the public.”