Council leader determined to protect Portbury Wharf

The reserve is popular with wildlife and residents Credit: ITV West Country

The leader of North Somerset Council says he is determined to maintain Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve in Portishead as a haven for wildlife, open to the public.

The future of the nature reserve was in doubt after the local Wildlife Trust was forced to pull out of managing the site.

The council is now considering taking over ownership of the site.

Each of the households on the nearby housing estate were paying an annual levy for the reserve's upkeep - about a pound a week per house.

But serious legal problems emerged with the way directors had been appointed by the management company which collects the money from local homeowners.

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